The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has been directed to strengthen its role in ensuring that all goods and services produced and sold in Tanzania comply with required standards of quality, safety and competitiveness, both locally and internationally.
The directive was issued by the Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Denis Londo, during the official launch of the TBS Workers’ Council held in Morogoro.
Deputy Minister Londo emphasized that compliance with standards is essential for protecting consumers, supporting local industries, and enhancing Tanzania’s position in regional and global markets.
He noted that for TBS to fully deliver on this mandate, it must foster a conducive working environment, promote unity among employees, and strengthen adherence to ethics, discipline and accountability.
“The Workers’ Council should serve as a key platform for enhancing productivity, encouraging innovation and improving institutional efficiency. It should work closely with management to provide constructive solutions to operational challenges,” he said.
He called on both management and employees to use formal dialogue mechanisms, particularly the Workers’ Council, to resolve workplace challenges through consultation and mutual understanding rather than unproductive disagreements.
The Deputy Minister further stressed that Workers’ Councils are legally mandated bodies, not optional structures, and management is therefore obliged to implement resolutions agreed upon through the Council.
He added that the government expects Workers’ Councils to promote constructive social dialogue, strengthen industrial relations, and ensure a fair balance between the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in the broader interest of the institution and the nation.
Council members were urged to act responsibly by respecting legal frameworks, presenting issues that reflect the collective interests of employees, promoting unity, maintaining discipline and peace at the workplace, and prioritizing efficiency and productivity.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of TBS, Ashura Katunzi, said the newly inaugurated Council is the 80th Workers’ Council and plays a critical role in supporting the Industry and Trade sector.
He noted that the Council oversees both institutional performance and employee welfare, and its establishment will further strengthen efficiency and service delivery.
Dr. Katunzi reaffirmed TBS’s commitment to serving Tanzanians by ensuring products meet national and international standards, while supporting the growth of the industrial and commercial sectors in line with the government’s vision of achieving a strong and competitive economy.
He also highlighted the institution’s five-year strategic plan (2026–2031), which focuses on bringing services closer to citizens, increasing productivity, and reducing the time required to deliver services.
Additionally, Dr. Katunzi revealed that TBS has recruited 105 new staff members deployed to border areas, expanded its working tools, and increased the number of zonal offices, with plans underway to establish more offices across the country to enhance service accessibility.