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Lobby group calls for govt ratification of ILO conventions
2007-12-31 09:00:13
By Rose Mwalongo
Human rights organisations in the country have called on the government to ratify International Labour Organisation conventions to ensure workers work in safe and healthy conditions.
The call was made in Dar es Salaam last Friday in their report on the implementation of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights in Tanzania.
Speaking at the launch of the draft report, SAHRINGON Tanzania Chapter national coordinator Rehema Kerefu said the discussion endeavoured to get final recommendations of the report before its submission to the international human rights committee.
For her part, SAHRINGON head of Monitoring Advocacy and Outreach Department Martha Olotu said they had picked the covenant on economic, social and cultural rights due to its touching on every social aspect of human lives.
``The covenant is important because it talks about human-related issues on employment, health and education. We have tried to provide guidelines and to touch on the weaknesses and strengths of implementation of the covenant in Tanzania,`` said Olotu.
The draft report indicates that there are setbacks in article 7 (b) of the covenant which states: `The right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work which ensure provision to all workers safe and healthy working conditions.`
Discussing the article, a facilitator of the workshop and a lawyer with the National Organisation for Legal Assistance, Doto Nghe`o, said most factory workers work under hazardous conditions.
Nghe’o called on the government to deal with such employers to ensure that workers are not harassed.
Another participant, Cesilia Nasoro from the Tanzania Self-Development Association, urged factories in the country to provide working gear for their workers in order to protect their heath.
Nasoro called on the government to monitor international foreign investors because some of them were mistreating their local employees.
Another contributor, Eda Mariki, asked the government to increase the number of labour inspectors to check on factories with hazardous conditions for workers.
The draft report calls on the government to delete from the country’s laws the entire Customary Laws Declaration Order No 4 (1963) as it does not ensure equality of men and women in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
Bride price has been mentioned as one of the customary laws which the government needs to abolish due to perceiving women as property for investment or enjoyment in various contexts, thus justifying inequality between men and women.
The report was prepared by SAHRINGON in collaboration with the Legal and Human Rights Centre, Women in Law and Development in Africa and Women’s Legal Aid Centre.
Others are the National Organisation for Legal Assistance, Tanzania Media Women`s Association and Training for Sustainable Development.
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