Browsing by Author "Mgaya, Mary H"

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    Study of workers in a factory in Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1976) Mgaya, Mary H
    The purpose of the study is to look at the conditions of workers in one of Tanzania’s industries. The study is focused on a special group of women workers of the middle and lower position. It also looks at how the women workers of the above categories assess themselves to find out whether they are aware of their actual problems, and if they know what to do, to try to solve those problems. The data for this study was collected through observations, interviews and documentary sources. The interviews were hold with both individual respondents as well as in groups in the form of discussions. The male respondents in the stratified sample of 76 people were chosen because they are directly involved with workers. The nature of the study and the categories of workers in the chosen factory necessitated a stratified sample. The nature of the study and the types of people in the study also made it necessary use interviews. The questions used in the interview were unstructured, so that those in the appendices are just guiding questions. The questions were grouped into the following items: - work, education, workers problems i.e. transport, housing, child care and health. The results of the study indicated that, the workers of the middle and lower positions are alienated. That there are two classes of people in the factory, e.i. the manual workers who constitute the majority of the workers, and the intellectual workers who possess the scientific knowledge but do not share it with workers directly. This is a common phenomenon in any capitalist institution, but as Tanzania aspires to turn socialist there arises the need to merge theory and practice. Secondly, the results indicated that women workers of the middle and lower position are discriminated against job, training, promotions and leadership positions. The causes to the above problems are the women’s dual roles of home and work which are believed to originate from the traditional sexist divisions of labour. Education is also one of the major causes of the women’s discrimination especially in jobs and training. The study then concludes that there is a need for radical changes in the social structure, prevailing attitudes and education for women. The Government and the institutions should work together with U.W.T to build more child care centre’s, dispensaries and provide houses near the work place or provide transport for all workers. Finally, education for girls should be improved and science streams should be increased at all levels.