Labour Court Standards
Legal minds, safer workplaces Tanzania Hosts OSHA’s high-level Judicial Training
Mwanza, Tanzania (ILO News) - In a decisive step toward bolstering legal enforcement of workplace safety and health labour standards in Tanzania, the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), under the Prime Minister Office - Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability, conducted a two-day training for judges of the High Court - Labour Division and key judicial stakeholders in Mwanza on 16th and 17th July 2025. The training reinforces ILO’s recognition of safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work and the obligation of its members states to respect, promote, and realize this right.
16 July 2025
The training was officially opened by Hon. Mustapher Mohamedi Siyani, Principal Judge of High Court of Tanzania who underscored the critical importance of enhancing judicial knowledge and capacity in matters of occupational safety and health (OSH). In his opening remarks Hon. Judge Mustapha Siyani emphasized that labour justice does not end at fair wages and contracts but extends to protecting the life, dignity, and wellbeing of workers. He called for improved coordination between legal, administrative, and technical institutions to ensure that OSH violations are addressed with timely and informed judicial action.
Occupational safety and health are not optional it is a fundamental right. For any institution to thrive, it must ensure a safe, inclusive, and resilient working environment. This training marks a strategic step in building a legal system that protects not just productivity, but the dignity and wellbeing of our workforce.” Hon. Dr. Mustapher Mohamed Siyani, Principal Judge, High Court of Tanzania
Also speaking at the event was Hon. Dr. Yose Joseph Mlyambina, Judge in Charge of the High Court Labour Division, who reinforced the central role of the judiciary in shaping a safe and just working environment. In his remarks, he stated,
Without safety at work, there can be no sustainable development. Strengthening our understanding of occupational safety and health is not only about compliance it’s about safeguarding lives, protecting dignity, and securing the future of our nation’s workforce.
The training brought together a wide cross-section of legal professionals, OSH experts, and representatives from government institutions, including labour inspectors, prosecutors, and labour relations officers. Discussions focused on bridging gaps in understanding national labour laws, ILO conventions, and the role of the judiciary in setting legal precedent for employer accountability in workplace accidents and violations.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) participated in the training, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and supporting the implementation of labour standards in Tanzania. The ILO was represented by Ms. Getrude Sima, National Project Coordinator, who attended on behalf of Director Caroline Mugalla of the ILO Country Office for Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Ms. Sima delivered remarks highlighting the ILO’s global mandate on OSH, the importance of legal institutions in promoting safe work environments, and the value of regional and international collaboration in achieving these goals.
This training come at a critical moment, as new forms of work, digitalisation, and climate change reshape the world of work. The judiciary’s role in upholding health and safety is not only a matter of law, but also a pillar of social justice, dignity, and sustainable development. The ILO remains committed to supporting national efforts to ensure every workplace is safe and every worker protected.” Caroline Khamati Mugalla, Director, ILO Country Office for Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda (delivered by Ms. Getrude Sima).
Dr Joshua Matiko, Director of Training Research, Statistics and Promotion at the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), delivered remarks on behalf of Ms. Khadija Mwenda, Chief Executive Officer of (OSHA). In his remarks Dr Matiko emphasized the urgency of strengthening legal capacity to address the rising complexity of workplace risks highlighting OSHA’s commitment to working collaboratively with the judiciary and other institutions to embed a national culture of prevention and accountability. Dr Matiko pointed the growing demand for OSH system that is responsive not only to traditional hazards but also to emerging issues such as psychosocial risks and technological disruptions.
Our courts are key partners in saving lives. A strong and well-informed judiciary is essential to ensuring that violations of occupational safety and health laws are addressed decisively, and that justice is delivered where it matters most at the heart of the workplace.” Khadija Mwenda, CEO, OSHA Tanzania (Delivered by Dr. Matiko)
Over the course of two days, participants engaged in detailed sessions covering core themes such as the application of ILO OSH standards, especially Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health and Convention No. 187 on the Promotional Framework for OSH. These conventions are critical instruments that help countries establish a legal and institutional basis for managing safety and health risks in the workplace.
Importantly, the training also addressed emerging OSH challenges, such as the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace. Presenters explored how AI is reshaping job roles and risk profiles, raising both opportunities and concerns for occupational health and legal accountability. The session emphasized the need for proactive legal thinking, so the justice system can respond effectively to the ethical, legal, and human implications of new technologies in the workplace.
Another key focus area was stress and psychosocial risks at work, a topic gaining prominence amid rising cases of mental health challenges linked to working conditions, long hours, and job insecurity. Judges were introduced to current research and international best practices on work-related stress and its treatment under national and international law. Through case studies and discussion, they examined how legal frameworks can better respond to these often-overlooked occupational risks.
Stakeholders applauded the inclusion of a multi-sectoral lens in the training, noting that meaningful improvements in OSH outcomes require cooperation between the judiciary, labour departments, enforcement agencies, employers, and workers' representatives. The use of real-life case scenarios helped situate the learning in local realities and sparked rich dialogue among participants about judicial interpretation, enforcement gaps, and avenues for reform.
This training reflects OSHA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the institutional capacity of Tanzania’s labour system, in alignment with its broader mission to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, while promoting a culture of prevention. It also aligns with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, which places workplace safety and health at the heart of fair and inclusive labour systems.
The event in Mwanza is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the legal arm of labour justice, ensuring that judges are equipped not only with the laws but with the technical and contextual understanding necessary to adjudicate OSH cases effectively and fairly. It further demonstrated the value of tripartite and multistakeholder dialogue in translating commitments into actionable change.
As workplaces evolve with new technologies, complex employment arrangements, and shifting risks, judicial engagement and OSH awareness will remain essential. The Mwanza training is a clear example of how institutions can work together to protect workers not just in law, but in practice.