Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - United Republic of Tanzania (Ratification: 1998)

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy and application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted that, the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Brazil with the technical support of the ILO to undertake a project in supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAP). The Committee also noted that, the ILO facilitated the dissemination of the NAP by training 148 government officials in the southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara on its effective implementation, as well as 110 local government officials on upscaling child labour interventions into their plans and budgets.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, in execution of the MoU with the Government of Brazil, awareness raising of the NAP was also made to local government officials and stakeholders in other regions of Mbeya, Ruvuma, Mwanza, Arusha and Tanga, along with the establishment and reactivation of district child labour subcommittees. Moreover, measures are under way to look into the possibility of initiating a review process of the NAP with a view to accommodating new developments.

However, the Committee also notes that, the third National Child Labour Survey (NCLS) in mainland Tanzania was carried out in 2014 with the technical and financial support of the ILO. According to the NCLS analytical report released in January 2016, the percentage of economically active children aged 5–17 years stands at 34.5 per cent at national level, while agriculture, forestry and fishing is the single most important industry in terms of the child labour force, employing 92.1 per cent of all working children. The Committee observes that, 22.1 per cent among children aged 5–11 years are working, and 36 per cent among children aged 12–13 are involved in economic activities other than light work, which amounts to about 2.76 million children in total. Recalling that the minimum age for employment or engagement of a child is specified as 14 years by section 5 of the Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004 and section 77 of the Law of Child Act 2009, the Committee expresses its concern at the significant number of children below the minimum age working in Tanzania. While taking note of the measures undertaken by the Government, the Committee urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure the progressive elimination of child labour, and to continue taking measures to ensure that the NAP is effectively implemented. The Committee also requests provide concrete information on the results achieved in terms of progressively eliminating child labour.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.