Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - United Republic of Tanzania (Ratification: 2001)

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. Following its previous comments, the Committee observes that section 20 of the Law of the Child (Child Employment) Regulations, adopted in 2012, provides that all sanctions, remedies and penalties provided in the Act, the Penal Code, the Employment and Labour Relations Act, and any other laws and regulations, shall apply where a person contravenes any of the provisions regarding the employment of a child. The Committee therefore requests the Government to clearly indicate the provisions establishing effective and dissuasive penalties for the offences related to the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, including the production and trafficking of drugs.

Article 6. Programmes of action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. The Committee previously noted that, within the ILO–Brazil Partnership Programme for the Promotion of South–South Cooperation, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania developed a National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (NAP). This project is intended to increase awareness and knowledge among stakeholders and the public at large on the adverse impact of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that, through the NAP, 148 government officials were sensitized on the worst forms of child labour and on the list of hazardous types of work. Moreover, child labour subcommittees were established in the districts of Ruangwa, Masasi, Liwale and Lindi Urban to oversee child labour issues. The Committee also notes with interest the Government’s information, communicated in its report under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), that during the 2011–12 financial year a total of 17,243 children were withdrawn from the worst forms of child labour, and 5,073 children were prevented from engaging in these worst forms. Out of these 22,316 children, 5,410 were admitted into vocational training programmes, 2,402 into primary education, and 1,235 into complementary basic education and training. In 2012–13, a total of 1,994 children were withdrawn from the worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the implementation of the NAP and the results achieved in terms of eliminating the worst forms of child labour.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Trafficking in children. The Committee previously noted that, according to the provisions under Part IV of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2008, the Government shall secure the protection, assistance and rehabilitation of child victims of trafficking and establish or designate centres for the protection and assistance of trafficking in persons (sections 19 and 20). The Committee also noted that Parliament established an Anti-Human Trafficking Fund in order to finance the Anti Trafficking Committee which focuses on providing protection and assistance to victims of trafficking.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that the Anti-Trafficking Committee is in place, and that regulations for the implementation of the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act have been drafted and are awaiting further consultations with stakeholders. The Government indicates that it is anticipated that these regulations will provide guidance on the collection of data and exchange of information concerning human trafficking, as well as facilitate the establishment of a viable database. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s information that some centres run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deal with the removal of child victims of trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation and their rehabilitation, such as the Kiwohede Centre in Dar es Salaam, Akuwata in Tanga, Don Bosco in Iringa, and Tuleane in Mwanza. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the number of child victims of trafficking who have been rehabilitated in the centres run by the NGOs. Moreover, it requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in establishing a database on human trafficking.