Youth labour migration in Tanzania plantations: case study of Rungwe District in Mbeya region.

This study on youth labour migration is aimed at providing the descriptive analysis that leads to youth-migrants involvement in searching employment opportunities in the tea plantations, labour and its impacts at work places in Tanzania plantations. A sample of 210 youths in five tea plantations belonging to Tukuyu Tea Estates Co. Ltd was randomly selected and interviewed in the fields. The study found that; the majority of these youths were between 15-24 years old, but some of them misreported their actual age. Young females out-numbered to young males. The main determinants of youth labour migration to the plantations are proximity to the place of origin, large family size, poor income of their parents and lack of high education institutions. Moreover, completion of school, at early age recruitment in job opportunities and social services available at the place of destination are other such factors. In tea plantations, youths with lower ages are employed temporarily. The young labour migrants were found working for ten hours per day, which affected their social and physical development. They were paid less than Tsh. 30,000 per month which is indicating of exploitation of human labour force. There are poor sewage systems, and youths have to walk long distances to plantations and to get poor medical service. Wages are delayed up to three months, hence young female engage themselves in various odd jobs. Meanwhile, the plantation labourers are benefiting from being employed and enjoying several social services in plantations, unaware that they were exploited. This study recommends that, plantation's owners should provide transport to and from plantations. Loans should be provided to youths. Raising income levels of their parents should be given first priority and laws need to be implemented to prohibit youths from working under poor environment which exposes them to pesticides and other chemical infections. Lastly, the government and NGO's should work together to eliminate child and youth labour in our country as stated in ILO labour laws.