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Tanzania
Child Rights and Business guidance for Chinese Companies Operating in Tanzania
- Available in:
- 中文
- English
Proposed indicators
Duration of maternity leave in national legislation is three months. Amount of maternity leave cash benefits is 100% of previous earnings. Children under 16 years old cannot work more than six hours a day.
Decent work for parents and young workers
Relevant to companies in the manufacturing, agriculture and construction sectors
Child labour
- Minimum age: The minimum age of full-time employment is 14, and children aged 14-18 may only be employed in work that is not likely to be harmful to the child's health and development.
- Hazardous work: Children under 18 years of age may not be employed in hazardous work. A list of hazardous works is included in the Law of the Child Act.
- Light work: Children under 14 years may not be engaged in light work.
Relevant to companies in all industries
Maternity and paternity protections
- Parental leave: Women are entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave and men are entitled to 3 days of paternity leave.
- Pay and benefits: Maternity and paternity leave is granted with full pay (100% of previous earnings), paid by the employer.
- Job protection: Under the Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004, it is unlawful to dismiss a worker due to pregnancy or any reason connected with her pregnancy. Female workers have the right to return to the same or similar position on the same terms and conditions after returning from maternity leave.
Decent work for parents and young workers:
- Health and safety: Under the Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004, an employer may not permit or require a pregnant worker or a worker who is nursing her child to perform work that is hazardous to her or child's health. If a female worker is involved in hazardous work, her employer is required to offer suitable alternative employment, if practicable, on same terms and conditions on which she is already employed.
- Working hours: Normal working hours are 48 per week – 8 hours per day over a maximum of 6 days per week. Children (aged 14-18) cannot be permitted to work during school hours or for more than three hours per day. Children who have completed compulsory education may be employed for not more than 6 hours per day.
- Breastfeeding: Under the Employment and Labour Relations Act, a female worker is entitled to the nursing breaks of maximum 2-hour duration per day.
Marketplace
Relevant to companies in the ICT sector
Child online safety
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM): National laws prohibit CSAM, and internet service providers (ISPs) are required to report instances to law enforcement. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority handles complaints of CSAM.
- Access to pornography: National laws prohibit accessing pornography, including on the internet.
- Cyberbullying: National cybercrime legislation prohibits the sending of communications with intent to coerce, intimidate, harass or cause emotional distress.
Community and Environment
Relevant to companies in the extractives, agriculture and construction sectors
Environment
- Impact assessment: To ensure that projects minimise harmful impacts on the environment, national laws require environmental impact assessments.
- Climate change: In its submission to the UNFCC, Tanzania has committed to reduce greenhouse gases by 10-20% by 2030.
Land rights
- Land tenure: Tanzania has over 100 distinct ethnic groups, many of whom identify as indigenous. Although the government does not recognise the existence of indigenous peoples, national laws fully address community and indigenous land tenure.
- Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC): Tanzania has made progress in incorporating the right to give FPIC before lands are acquired by government or private investors.
Security arrangements
- Child soldiers: National laws ensure that children under 18 are not compulsorily recruited into the armed forces and do not take part in hostilities.
Child rights
- Education: Primary education is free and compulsory. Secondary education is neither free or nor compulsory.
- Healthcare: The Constitution recognises the right to health. The government no longer guarantees free healthcare to all, although there are a number of public health insurance schemes that aim to improve universal access.