Tanzania Advances Ratification Process for Key ILO Labour Migration Conventions

From 23 to 24 October 2025, the Government of Tanzania convened a Technical Consultation in Morogoro to review the findings of a national gap analysis on the Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97) and Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143). Organised by the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the UK FCDO-funded Better Regional Migration Management Programme, the consultation brought together tripartite partners and relevant public institutions. The objective was to validate the assessment findings, clarify areas of alignment and non-alignment, and identify concrete steps to advance Tanzania’s ratification of the two conventions.

Tanzania is both a country of origin and destination for migrant workers, with increasing labour mobility within the East African region and beyond. While the country has developed a range of labour migration related policies and bilateral labour migration agreements, it has not yet ratified these two key ILO Conventions, which set international standards on equality of treatment, access to employment, social security, and protection against abusive migration conditions. In line with international practice, the Government initiated a structured gap analysis to assess the compatibility of national laws, regulations, and administrative practices with the requirements of the conventions. The Morogoro consultation marked a critical validation step in this process, providing a platform for stakeholders to review findings, share perspectives, and build consensus on priority reforms needed to support ratification.

The consultation featured plenary discussions across key thematic areas, including equality of treatment between migrant and national workers, access to employment services, conditions of work, social security coverage, family reunification, and measures to address irregular migration and abusive recruitment practices. Participants provided technical clarifications, proposed revisions to the assessment matrices, and highlighted institutional responsibilities critical for effective implementation.

The discussions resulted in a clearer understanding of Tanzania’s readiness to ratify the two conventions as well as the specific actions required to address identified gaps. Participants confirmed areas where national frameworks are already aligned with international standards, while also identifying legal, policy, and institutional gaps that require further attention. Key recommendations included strengthening coordination among labour, migration, and social protection institutions, clarifying administrative procedures affecting migrant workers, and enhancing enforcement mechanisms. The process also underscored the importance of tripartite engagement in assessing international labour standards, ensuring that the perspectives of both workers and employers are reflected in the ratification pathway.

Following the consultation, the validated gap analysis matrices will be finalized and used to develop a national roadmap toward ratification of ILO Conventions No. 97 and No. 143. A dedicated technical team will support follow up actions, including targeted legal reviews and policy adjustments. The Morogoro consultation represents an important step towards strengthening migrant worker protection and aligning Tanzania’s labour migration governance framework with international labour standards.