Taking labour migration to the classrooms in Dar es Salaam

The International Labour Organization (ILO), through the UK FCDO-funded Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, has engaged university students and faculty members in Dar es Salaam on labour migration governance, fair recruitment and safe migration pathways.

Through a series of Public lectures held at the Institute of Social Work and the University of Dar es Salaam, the ILO brought together 200 participants, including 119 female students, faculty members, alumni, youth leaders, and student association representatives, to strengthen understanding of labour migration and equip young people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about employment and labour migration opportunities.

With more than 20 million people aged 15 to 35 years, Tanzania has one of the youngest populations in the East and Horn of Africa region. At the same time, young people are entering a labour market where 94.6 per cent of employment is informal, skills mismatches persist, and access to decent work remains limited. Universities therefore provide a critical platform for promoting awareness of labour rights, regular migration pathways and responsible labour migration practices.

Knowledge is your greatest passport and informed decisions are your strongest protection

Ms. Caroline Mugalla, Director, ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

The lectures provided students with practical information on labour migration trends, governance frameworks and considerations for prospective migrant workers. Ms. Aida Awel, Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO BRMM Programme, highlighted labour migration trends and dynamics across the East and Horn of Africa and outlined efforts under the BRMM Programme to promote safe, regular, and fair labour migration. Representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office-Labour, Employment and Relations (PMO-LER) presented Tanzania's labour migration governance framework, including regular migration procedures, fair recruitment principles, bilateral labour agreements with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Iran, and measures to protect migrant workers throughout the migration cycle.

Interactive question and answer sessions enabled students and faculty members to engage directly with speakers on the opportunities and challenges associated with labour migration, including access to reliable information, policy implementation, skills development and the importance of evidence-based decision-making. The discussions emphasized that informed choices, access to accurate information and understanding of workers’ rights are essential elements of safe and beneficial labour migration.

Participants also highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration among universities, government institutions, social partners and development organizations in preparing young people for the future of work. The public lectures marked the first BRMM-supported university engagement on labour migration in Tanzania, building on similar initiatives implemented in Kenya and Uganda. The initiative reflects the Programme's commitment to expanding youth awareness of safe, regular and fair labour migration across the East and Horn of Africa, with further engagements planned in Ethiopia and Somalia. Through partnerships with academic institutions, the ILO continues to support efforts that empower young people with knowledge, strengthen labour migration governance and promote decent work opportunities throughout the migration cycle.