State keen on workers well-being-Minister

DODOMA: THE government is in consultation with the Tanzania Local Government Workers Union (TALGWU) and other trade unions with the intention of improving working conditions and workers’ well-being.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Employment and Relations, Mr Deus Sangu, stated this in Dodoma recently when he officiated at TALGWU’s National General Election Conference, saying that through the process, the government continues to receive and consider views and advice from stakeholders.

The Minister made the remarks in response to TALGWU Acting Secretary General Wandiba Ngocho, who raised six grievances facing the union’s members.

Mr Ngocho mentioned the six challenges facing TALGWU members as untimely payment of annual leave allowances, the Performance Management System (PEPMIS), professional practising licence fees for healthcare workers, timely payment of transfer allowances, operational challenges in schemes of service and re-categorisation, and the ineffective functioning of Workers’ Councils.

Responding, Sangu said: “Through our system of joint dialogue, Social Dialogue, the government continues to receive and discuss the views, advice and recommendations of workers with the aim of improving working conditions and their overall welfare.”

According to Sangu, his office was open for dialogue and cooperation and had always been at the disposal of stakeholders to provide support and cooperation to ensure that both working conditions and workers’ welfare are improved.

“I assure you at this General Meeting that we will continue with the cooperation that we have demonstrated from the beginning, and my office will always stand with you,” he promised.

He congratulated TALGWU’s leadership for maintaining the stability of the union and advised that through the meeting, leaders should continue to address workers’ challenges through dialogue, consultations and legally established procedures.

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Mr Sangu added that cooperation between the government and trade unions is the foundation for good relations, productivity and a sustainable economy that delivers services to citizens.

“And here, I would like to emphasise, fellow delegates, that alongside other agendas, this General Meeting is specifically for elections. I congratulate those whose terms are coming to an end. Some will succeed in continuing for another term, while others will not be able to continue. Let us take this opportunity to congratulate the entire leadership whose term is coming to an end,” he said.

Welcoming the Minister, TALGWU National Chairperson Cde Tumaini Nyamhokya assured members gathered in the capital that the union would never fall into conflicts and said the planned election would run smoothly.

Cde Nyamhokya said all regions were well represented at the meeting, with special invited guests coming from outside the country, including Türkiye, Kenya, South Africa and Somalia.

TALGWU was registered under the Trade Unions Act No. 10 of 1998 and was issued registration number 010 on September 15, 2000.

Its role is to educate, advocate for and protect the employment and remuneration of its members in accordance with laws, procedures, regulations, guidelines and various employment documents.

The union brings together all workers employed under local government authorities and other institutions across the country. As of June 2024, the union had 89,100 members.

TALGWU is affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), the global federation of trade unions providing public services (PSI), and the African Network of Local Government Unions (AMALGUN).

A trade union is therefore a unity, association and solidarity of workers whose interests, goals, aspirations and expectations are similar.

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