The development of labour policy and labour relations in Tanzania mainland
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Date
1977
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Abstract
Labour relations in the World of labour policy, indeed the whole field of labour law in at a erucial point od its evolution in Tanzania. This should not come as a surprise since labour law is but a reflection of the general state of a society at a given point in time. African countries are now passing through an unprecedented change, in the field of labour policy, Tanzania included. There have been many strains witnessed outwardly and these have been mainly as a result of rapid industrialization; the explosion that is witnessed in the population and labour forces; the increasing commitment of governments to development planning and, the changing prices as a result of inflation. Underlying these is the disparity between modern technology and a basically rural society. Indeed these problems have had decisive influence on the pattern of development in the labour relations policy. Labour law therefore is the sum total of the on-going process of change and accommodation in the social and economic spheres of a country. In here the struggle for power and influence amongst the social actors i.e., trade unions and employers’ organizations is prominent. The labour policy that does not take into account the above factors which are involved in the molding of a nation’s labour policy, neglects in large measure, the aspiration’s of the society; does not meet the expectations of the people and in short has to be seriously appraised with complete overhaul, if need there be. In the developing countries, the inter-connection between wages, employment creation and a fair income distribution is an extremely delicate affair, being the focus of all the discussions that go on in these countries. Yet no country, has ever attempted a deliberate action programme to face up to real issues at stake in these matters. As it will be pointed out later, and being one of the themes in our discussion, the real issue at stake is the choice between planning for social purposes or allowing internet groups to flourish in the name of development. Underlying this basic tenet we therefore point out that there are two major functions of labour law in the development of labour policy. One is to project workers in the role of giving them minimum standards, wages included, which they might miss were the determination of such conditions left entirely on the mechanism of labour market and the free play of market forces. Another major function is to regulate labour relations i.e., relations between employers, trade unions and government establishing rules of conduct for collective bargaining and the settlement of labour or industrial disputes. Since planning for social purposes means that the target is the development of man, it means therefore, the purpose of labour law and labour relations in employment relations, is the enhancement of the worker’s distinctive position in the production process, generally, and at his/her place of work, in particular. It is with this view in mind that the relevance of the concept of collective bargaining in Africa’s labour relations is undertaken specifically in Tanzania. It will be noted that many countries in Western Europe and North America, not to mention the former African colonies, have confused to follow the pristine logic of Britain, in this field. It is in this light therefore that this work was undertaken in Tanzania.
Description
Available in print form, EAF Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, (THS EAF HD8811.T3 A 45)
Keywords
Labor and laboring classes, Tanzania
Citation
Alizeti, M.N (1977) The development of labour policy and labour relations in Tanzania mainland, Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.