The United Republic of Tanzania works closely with the International Labor Organization (ILO), which is the United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labor standards.
The ILO was founded in 1919 under the League of Nations and became a specialized agency of the newly formed United Nations in 1946. It is the only tripartite organization that brings together governments, employers and workers from 187 Member States to improve a wide range of policies and programs related to labor issues and to monitor and defend workers' rights.
As a member of the ILO since 1962, Tanzania has ratified 37 different Conventions and protocols on employment and labor matters as well as management of the provision of justice and equality of labor issues to employers and workers.
The ILO accomplishes its work through three main bodies which comprise governments', employers' and workers' representatives: the International Labor Conference, the Governing Body and the International Labor Office. The International Labor Conference is the supreme organ of the ILO that is composed of all ILO Member States and meets annually in Geneva to set the International labor standards and the broad policies of the ILO.
The Conference is also a forum for discussion of key social and labor questions. In the interval between the conferences, the Governing Body acts as the executive council of the ILO, and meets three times a year in Geneva to decide on ILO policy and establishes the program and the budget, which it then submits to the Conference for adoption. The International Labor Office is the permanent secretariat of the ILO. It is the focal point for ILO's overall activities, which it prepares under the scrutiny of the Governing Body and under the leadership of the Director-General.
Tanzania is among 28 members of the Governing Body, being among 7 countries representing Africa for the term 2024 – 2027. Previously, Tanzania was a member of the ILO Governing Body for the period 2014 – 2018.
By being a Member State of ILO, Tanzania has continued to adhere to its constitution on the rights to work and creation of decent work. This has enabled Tanzania to put in place conducive environment for employers and workers following the agreed international standards; tackle common challenges related to the world of work; strengthen global and regional cooperation in labour-related issues; and ensure sustainable developed society through the provision of social security. Tanzania also cooperates with partners on various projects and programme to help realize the decent work agenda; and continues to prevent and addressing violence/harassment in the world of work through occupational safety and health measures.
World & ILO flags at the International Labour Office, Credit Marcel Crozet / ILO.
ILO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. Credit, Marcel Crozet / ILO
