Dar es Salaam to ratify domestic employment Act

Written by MOSES MATTHEW

Mwanza, Tanzania. 

THE National Assembly is expected to ratify the Domestic Employment and Industrial Relations Act early next year after the government signed the contract in Geneva, Switzerland, last year.

The Minister for Labour and Employment, Gaudencia Kabaka said here over the weekend that the House is likely to ratify the act which aims to improve the condition of domestic workers in the country next January."Tanzania had all reasons to sign the contract as it aims to improve the working environment of domestic workers that would help to supplement the chaotic wages among them," said the minister.

She noted that ratification of the bill will enable enforcement of existing employment and labour laws to protect children from becoming domestic workers as well as those who are abused by their employers.The minister, who was the guest of honour at Equal for All Organization's workshop, lashed out at employers who have a penchant for employing children as domestic help.

She labelled the ill practice as exploitation of children, saying that the government will not tolerate and will not hesitate to take stern action against those found to be involved in the malpractice. The employment and industrial relations act of 2004 is clear that a domestic worker is entitled to a pay that would sustain the employee and section 4 of the act restricts children less than 14 years to work as domestic help.

Child domestic workers have pleaded with the government to create a safe working environment in the country to avert possible disasters.Recently there have been reports of a violent killing of a child working as a domestic worker in Kilimanjaro region in inexplicable circumstance after reportedly being raped in the house she was working.

Ms Veronica Christopher (22), a domestic worker, presented impassioned  message to the minister, saying that the incident was reported by HabariLeo newspaper in July where Ms Cecilia Kisesa (19), was raped and killed.She called on the government to crack down on such elements that abuse domestic workers and take legal action against them.

Equal to All Organization's Managing Director, Ms Anjelina Benedicto said that the organization was established under the umbrella of Kivuli Women Rights and enjoys its support since 2005.

Source: Daily News (25/09/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/9860-dar-es-salaam-to-ratify-domestic-employment-act