President Samia Suluhu Hassan today led national celebrations of International Workers’ Day (Mei Mosi) held in Njombe Region, where she called for greater responsibility, productivity, and commitment to decent work as key drivers of Tanzania’s sustainable development.
The celebrations, which brought together thousands of workers, government leaders, employers and development partners, were held under the theme: “Decent Work is a Strong Pillar for Sustainable Development in the Implementation of Vision 2050.”
President Samia said the government recognizes the critical contribution of workers in building the national economy, noting that progress recorded in various sectors is the result of joint efforts between the government, workers, employers and the private sector.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue improving working conditions, workers’ welfare and labour relations as the economy grows, stressing that sustainable development depends on productivity, discipline and professionalism in the workplace.
The President highlighted ongoing government efforts to enhance workers’ welfare, including salary adjustments, strengthening social security systems, improving occupational safety and health, and expanding structured dialogue between stakeholders in the labour sector.
She further called on workers to remain committed to efficiency, integrity and patriotism in their duties, saying national development requires collective effort and strong work ethics at all levels.
At the same time, President Samia emphasized the importance of skills development, particularly among young people, noting that Tanzania must prepare a workforce capable of competing in a modern economy driven by knowledge, technology and innovation.
“The government’s goal is to ensure every worker operates in a safe, dignified and fair environment that enables them to contribute fully to national development,” she said.
Workers, through the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), commended the government for continued improvements in the labour sector, including salary increments, better working environments and strengthened tripartite dialogue between government, employers and workers.
TUCTA Secretary General Herry Mkunda also urged the government to further strengthen social protection systems, workplace safety and employment opportunities, particularly for young job seekers entering the labour market.
On his part, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Labour, Employment and Relations, Deus Sangu, said government reforms have strengthened service delivery and improved production environments, citing investments in health, education, infrastructure and key economic sectors as vital in improving workers’ livelihoods.
The Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) Chairperson, Dr. Oscar Mgaya, praised the government for improving the business environment and advancing reforms such as the Presidential Tax Reform Commission, saying the measures will boost private sector investment and create more decent jobs.
From the international side, the International Labour Organization (ILO) East Africa representative, Caroline Mugala, commended Tanzania for advancing the decent work agenda and strengthening social dialogue in the labour sector.
She said ILO will continue to support Tanzania in implementing the National Decent Work Programme, improving labour standards, promoting youth and women skills development, and enhancing safe employment systems, including for Tanzanians working abroad.
The Mei Mosi celebrations concluded with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen productivity, improve working conditions, and ensure that economic growth translates into better livelihoods for workers across the country.
