Dodoma. The Prime Minister’s Office is using the ongoing Nane Nane Farmers’ Exhibitions in Dodoma to intensify public awareness on the dangers of child labour and to educate the public on their role in safeguarding children’s rights.
Visitors to the exhibition have been receiving information on the negative impact of hazardous child labour, which often deprives children of fundamental rights such as access to education, healthcare, protection from abuse, the right to play, and proper parental care.
Senior Labour Officer from the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Oddo Hekela, said that educating the public on the legal and moral implications of child labour remains a national priority.
“We are using this platform to remind the public that employing a child under the age of 14 is a criminal offence,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure children grow up in safe environments that support their health, education and moral development.”he added
Mr Hekela cited Section 5 of the Employment and Labour Relations Act (Cap. 366), which prohibits children under the age of 14 from engaging in informal employment including tasks such as loading cargo, operating in transport-related services, or working in industrial settings.
He stressed that tackling child labour requires collective responsibility, and warned that the Prime Minister’s Office will continue to take firm action against individuals or institutions found violating child labour laws.
“The protection of children is not the duty of government alone—it is a shared obligation. We urge parents, guardians, employers, and community leaders to take a firm stand against all forms of child labour,” he added.
The initiative is part of broader efforts by the government to combat child exploitation and promote a rights-based approach to child development, in line with both domestic laws and international conventions to which Tanzania is a signatory.
Nane Nane, celebrated annually on August 8, serves as a platform for stakeholders in agriculture and development to showcase innovations, but has increasingly become a venue for national awareness campaigns on key social issues including child protection.