Forced Labour

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-21

Prohibition on Forced and Compulsory Labour

The Constitution of Tanzania prohibits all forms of forced labour. The Employment and labour Relations Act, 2004 also prohibits all forms of forced labour. Forced labour includes bonded labour or any work exacted from a person under the threat of a penalty and to which that person has not consented. Any person who procures, demands or imposes forced labour, commits an offence.

A person who unlawfully compels others to labour against their will commits an offence. The Child Law prohibits imposing of forced labour or bonded labour on children. A person who contravenes the provision related to forced labour from Child Law commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine of not less than two hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term of six months or to both.

Sources: §25(2) of the Constitution of Tanzania; §6 of the Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004,  §80 of the Law of the Child Act 2009

Freedom to Change Jobs and Right to Quit

Workers have the right to change jobs after serving due notice on their employer. For more information, please refer to the section on employment security.

Source: §41 of the Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004

Inhumane Working Conditions

Working time may be extended beyond normal working hours of forty five hours per week and nine hours a day. However, total hours of work inclusive of overtime must not exceed twelve hours a day and 50 hours in a 4 week cycle except in cases of emergency.

For more information on this, please refer to the section on compensation.

Source: § 19 of the Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004

Regulations on Forced Labour

  • Employment and Labour Relations Act, No. 6 of 2004 / Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Kazini Sehemu ya 6 ya 2004
  • The Penal Code, 1945 / Kanuni za adhabu, 1945
  • The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977 (amended in 2005) / Katiba ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, 1977 (imefanyiwa marekebisho mwaka 1995)

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