Social Justice
ILO–Judiciary partnership strengthens labour justice and prepares Tanzania for the future of work
A strong partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Judiciary of Tanzania continues to deliver lasting results in strengthening labour justice, promoting the rule of law, and protecting rights at work.
1 July 2026
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (ILO) – More than a farewell ceremony, the gathering at the ILO Kazi House marked a celebration of a partnership that has transformed labour justice in Tanzania and reaffirmed a shared commitment to building institutions that protect workers' rights, promote the rule of law, and prepare the country for the changing world of work.
As the International Labour Organization (ILO) honoured Hon. Dr. Yose Joseph Mlyambina, outgoing Judge In-Charge of the High Court Labour Division and current Justice of Appeal, and welcomed Hon. Dr. Ntemi Kilekamajenga as the incoming Judge In-Charge, the event became a powerful reflection on what sustained collaboration between international and national institutions can achieve.
During his farewell remarks, Hon. Dr. Mlyambina described the ILO as one of the Judiciary's "most valued and trusted development partners," acknowledging that the partnership had produced lasting institutional reforms that will continue benefiting Tanzania's labour justice system for generations.
The achievements we celebrate today are not personal accomplishments. They are institutional milestones... They demonstrate what can be achieved when international organizations and national institutions work together in pursuit of social justice and decent work.
Over the past three years, the partnership has delivered tangible results that have strengthened access to labour justice across the country. These include the publication of the Court of Appeal Labour Cases Report (2023), the Compilation of Principal and Subsidiary Labour Laws, and the High Court Labour Cases Report (2025), providing judges, magistrates, lawyers, labour officers, employers and workers with authoritative labour jurisprudence that promotes consistency, predictability and confidence in judicial decision-making.
The collaboration has also invested in people.
Leadership development programmes for judges and labour justice stakeholders, specialized training through the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, and technical support for judicial modernization have strengthened institutional capacity while introducing practical innovations that improve service delivery to court users. One example highlighted during the ceremony was the introduction of QR code technology within the Labour Division, making labour law resources and court information more accessible to the public.
Looking beyond these achievements, both institutions recognized that labour justice must continue evolving alongside the changing world of work.
Hon. Dr. Mlyambina welcomed the adoption of the ILO Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, 2026 (No. 193), describing it as a timely framework for addressing emerging issues surrounding digital labour platforms, workers' rights, social protection, occupational safety and health, and access to justice. He called for continued collaboration between the ILO and the Judiciary to strengthen legislation, build institutional capacity, and prepare labour justice actors to respond to new forms of employment.
Speaking during the ceremony, Caroline Mugalla, Director of the ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to deepening its collaboration with the Judiciary.
Strong labour justice institutions are fundamental to advancing decent work, protecting rights at work and strengthening confidence in labour market institutions. Our partnership with the Judiciary demonstrates what is possible when we work together to build systems that deliver justice, promote social dialogue and improve the lives of workers and employers.
Welcoming Hon. Dr. Ntemi Kilekamajenga, participants expressed confidence that the strong institutional foundation established through years of collaboration would continue to grow, ensuring that labour justice remains responsive to the evolving needs of workers, employers and enterprises.
As Tanzania navigates technological transformation, climate change, labour mobility and the growth of digital work, the partnership between the ILO and the Judiciary continues to demonstrate that strong institutions, informed leadership and sustained collaboration are essential to delivering social justice, strengthening the rule of law and shaping a future of work that leaves no one behind.