New Wages For Workers

Donor dependent budget and balancing between social services and minimum wage are among major constraints that hinder government to decide on minimum surviving wage for its workers.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, Prof Juma Kapuya told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government wishes to pay its workers living wage recommended by various stakeholders but it needs to work out on modalities to effect such payment.

"We have a problem here, we could decide that all taxes we collect from wananchi be used to pay our workers, but what about the social services that people need from the government?" asked the minister.

He said working on the donor dependent budget; the Government has to balance between paying its worker handsomely and its ability to provide social services to Tanzanians.

The minister said that the donor dependent budget denies and threatens the Government independence on many things including setting a sound minimum wage for its workers.

The Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) recommended that the government should pay Sh318,000 as the minimum wage while the opposition parties recommended Sh210,000.

He was talking on International Labour Organisation's, (ILO) 90th anniversary to be celebrated on Monday.

He commended the organisation for various initiatives that led to the promotion of labour standards, employment creation, social protection and social dialogue.

The minister said ILO leads other United Nations (UN) organisations in implementing democracy in the country by incorporating the Government and other labour stakeholders before making decisions on any matter.

Speaking during the meeting the ILO director for East Africa and Somalia, Mr Alexio Musindo, said the organisation was dedicated to promoting social justice and decent work agenda through implementation of its four objectives.

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