Assessing the Effectiveness of Regulatory and Inspection Systems for Private Employment Agencies in Tanzania

On 27 November 2025, the Government of Tanzania, with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the UK FCDO-funded Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, convened a national validation workshop in Dar es Salaam. The workshop reviewed findings from an assessment of the registration, licensing, and inspection systems governing Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs), with the aim of strengthening Tanzania’s regulatory framework for fair recruitment. The workshop brought together representatives from government institutions, social partners, private employment agencies, and civil society to validate findings, refine recommendations, and ensure the assessment accurately reflects the current operational landscape.

Private Employment Agencies play a key role in facilitating access to both domestic and international job opportunities, particularly in the context of increasing labour mobility across East Africa. However, weak oversight can expose workers to risks such as excessive recruitment fees, misinformation, contract substitution, and human trafficking. International labour standards, including the ILO’s Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No.181), and the General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment., underscore the importance of effective regulatory and inspection systems. Under BRMM Phase II, the ILO commissioned a regional assessment covering Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda to examine how PrEAs are regulated in practice and to identify policy and institutional gaps. The assessment draws on desk reviews, key informant interviews, and comparative analysis across the three countries, focusing on legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, licensing procedures, inspection practices, and operational challenges.

The validation workshop brought together 13 participants, including representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Investment (Zanzibar), the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), the Tanzania Recruitment Agencies Association (TRAA), Community Health and Social Welfare Africa (COMHESWA), and the ILO.

Discussions highlighted key issues related to inspection capacity, enforcement gaps, and differences between regulatory systems in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Participants also explored the potential of digital tools for tracking recruitment processes and addressing challenges posed by informal intermediaries. During the validation process, participants provided important clarifications and updates. A key finding confirmed that 116 Private Employment Agencies were registered as of November 2025. While informal intermediaries remain present, stakeholders noted that they do not dominate the formal recruitment sector.

The workshop also highlighted ongoing reforms, including progress in digital monitoring systems, particularly in Zanzibar, the finalization of a national Pre-Departure Orientation curriculum, and strengthened collaboration with the Anti-Human Trafficking Secretariat. Looking ahead, participants recommended bridging regulatory gaps between Mainland and Zanzibar, strengthening inspection systems, integrating updated data, and reinforcing documentation of recent government reforms. The harmonization of licence validity to one year across jurisdictions was noted as a positive step towards regulatory consistency. The workshop concluded with agreement to finalize the assessment report by incorporating updated statistics and legal developments. Once published, the report will serve as a foundation for continued policy dialogue and future BRMM interventions aimed at enhancing regulation, licensing, and inspection of PrEAs. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting fair recruitment, protecting migrant workers, and strengthening transparency and accountability within Tanzania’s labour migration governance system.