Agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy of the United Republic of Tanzania, contributing significantly to its GDP and employing a large portion of the population. The sector has immense potential due to favourable climatic conditions and
diverse agroecological zones. However, challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and limited access to modern inputs hinder productivity.
Child labour remains a critical issue in Tanzania, despite existing legal frameworks, particularly within the agriculture sector. A significant number of children are engaged in agricultural work, often under hazardous conditions – many of these children are involved in tasks that pose serious risks to their health and safety, such as handling dangerous tools, being exposed to pesticides, and carrying heavy loads. Addressing these challenges is vital for sustainable development and improving
livelihoods in Tanzania.
The prevalence of child labour in agriculture is driven by various factors, including poverty, lack of access to quality education, and cultural practices that perpetuate the existence of this phenomenon. Efforts to combat child labour in Tanzania must address these root causes, ensuring that children have access to education and that families have alternative means of livelihood. Nonetheless, strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms is also crucial to protect children from exploitation and to promote their well-being.
In 2023, the Ministry of State, Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability (PMO-LYED) in collaboration with the ECLT Foundation, carried out a “Baseline assessment of Child Labour policies and practices in the agriculture sector in Tanzania”. This assessment aimed to take stock of the status of major contractors and buyers in the agricultural sector in Tanzania with respect to Child Labour policy, due diligence, and access to remedy in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). More specifically, the assessment focused on the Child Labour policies and practices of companies involved in key agricultural value chains in Tanzania – namely cashew nut, coffee, cotton, sisal, tea, and tobacco.
The outcomes and recommendations of the baseline assessment were presented to stakeholders at a Tripartite-plus forum held in Tabora, Tanzania, on September 15th, 2023. Among the key recommendations presented and endorsed at the forum, ECLT Foundation suggested to the Crop Boards the development and endorsement of minimum standards (or labour practices) for the agriculture sector in Tanzania (i.e., applicable to growers, buying companies, cooperatives, processors, transporters, farmers and workers’ organisations).
As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture, the TTB, the TSB, players from the Tobacco and Sisal industries, and ECLT Foundation developed a comprehensive set of minimum standards in the form of this code.
