ILO and Government of Tanzania launch the cotton with decent work project in Tanzania during the 2023 annual labour conference in Tanzania

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania have launched the Cotton with Decent Work project in Tanzania during the 2023 Annual Labour Conference in Tanzania that was held on 21st October 2023. The event was graced by the Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Labour, Youth, Employment and People with Disabilities, Hon Prof Joyce Ndalichako and other dignitaries including the Permanent Secretary, PMO-LYED, Eng. Cyprian Luhemeja, and the Brazilian Ambassador to Tanzania, His Excellency Gustavo Nogueira.

This project is a result of the fruitful partnership between the ILO and the Government of Brazil, under the Brazil-ILO Partnership Programme for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation. The programme has laid a solid foundation for this collaborative effort, exemplifying the power of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges.

The launch of this project symbolizes the joint determination to break the cycle of child labour, violence against children, poverty, and inequality by the partners. Its objectives are clear: to bolster social security coverage for workers in the cotton sector, fortify institutional capabilities to combat child labour and create an enabling environment to protect boys and girls against violence from the grassroots, augment awareness concerning child labour in cotton-growing regions, and strengthen the labour inspection system, with a specific emphasis on eradicating child labour.

The project will be implemented in Meatu district located in Simiyu region – a location which boasts pivotal cotton-growing communities, collectively contributing the highest proportion of Tanzania's cotton production

Drawing from the expertise and experiences of Brazil, the project aims at achieving the following three specific outcomes:

1. To establish a comprehensive and sustainable national action on elimination of child labour
2. To promote the availability of adequate and effective protection at work for all,
3. To strengthen institutional capacities so as to increase social security coverage in the cotton sector

Effective execution of these outcomes will create a profound impact on the lives of the children and communities affected by child labour, paving the way for a brighter and more equitable future for all. The message from all the speakers was clear in calling all partners and stakeholders to join hands, share knowledge, and build a future where children are free from exploitation, workers are treated with dignity, and where collaboration paves the way for enduring positive change. The success of this project will not only transform the cotton sector in Tanzania but also serve as a beacon of hope for similar endeavours across the region and beyond.