Refugees and employment creation in Tanzania

The influx of refugees is an aspect that has had impact on socio-economic and political developments on asylum giving countries. Most scholars have attempted to reveal the negative impact of refugees such as refugees as a threat to national security, environmental degradation, increase in the rate of crimes, spread of diseases and cultural issues just to mention a few. Few researchers managed to explain positive impacts with little emphasis on the aspect of creating employment on host states. This study was conducted in 2007 as a contribution to the understanding of the refugee phenomenon particularly on the relation between refugee influx and employment on host state. The study cited North-western region of Tanzania and Dar es Salaam as its case study. Most part of the findings in this study draws much from documentary material, and that it is a cross-sectional design. The findings reveal that though refugee influx has negative impacts on Tanzania as a host state, yet there are positive impacts such as the aspect of employment. This has revealed the bias for some studies that concentrated much on revealing the negative impacts of refugee influx only and neglected acknowledging the positive ones. The set of measurements on the aspect of employment opportunities included employment in the government department that is mandated to deal with refugee issues; employment as the result of multiplier effect; informal employment opportunities to local peoples living in areas that surround refugee settlements/camps, and lastly employment on trade opportunities that some nationals enjoy in effect of the refugee influx. The study concludes that, presence of refugees creates employment opportunities to citizens of the host country. It is however recommended that, government of the host state must not forcibly return refugees to their home countries if situation at home is not peaceful as refugees when are settled in a host state they may bring some benefits like that of creating employment opportunities.