The Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) has stepped up efforts to improve public understanding of workers’ compensation rights by training journalists on social protection systems, in a move aimed at strengthening workplace safety awareness and improving reporting on labour issues across the country.
The training, held in Dar es Salaam, brought together journalists from various media organisations and was organised in collaboration between the Workers Compensation Fund, the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), and the Journalists Association of Workers in Tanzania.
Opening the session, TUCTA leadership said journalists play a critical role in shaping how citizens understand labour rights and social protection systems.
They stressed that accurate and well-informed reporting helps workers know their rights and encourages employers to comply with workplace safety laws.
They explained that WCF remains a key institution in protecting workers who suffer injuries, diseases, or death arising from their work.
They added that many citizens still lack sufficient knowledge about how the compensation system works, making media engagement essential in bridging the gap.
TUCTA also urged journalists to use their platforms to educate the public on the importance of joining social security schemes and to highlight the responsibility of employers to report workplace incidents and remit contributions on time.
JOWUTA representatives noted that the training comes at a time when many journalists face challenges linked to informal employment and short-term contracts, which in some cases limit access to social protection benefits.
They said this situation not only affects media workers themselves but also highlights broader labour market challenges faced by many Tanzanians in different sectors.
“Understanding workers’ rights is important for journalists because it helps them protect themselves and also inform the public more effectively,” said JOWUTA leadership.
Officials from WCF said the fund is committed to working closely with stakeholders to ensure that more citizens understand their rights under the workers’ compensation system.
They emphasized that journalists are key partners in spreading accurate information to communities across the country.
They added that when journalists are well equipped with knowledge, they become important voices in promoting workplace safety, accountability, and awareness of compensation procedures in case of accidents.
The training also focused on key benefits provided by WCF, including medical treatment for injured workers, compensation for permanent or temporary disability, survivor benefits for families of deceased workers, funeral assistance, and rehabilitation services to support recovery and reintegration into work.
Participants were encouraged to act as ambassadors of workers’ compensation awareness within their newsrooms and communities, helping to expand public understanding of workplace rights and strengthen compliance among employers.
Overall, the initiative reflects ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration between labour institutions, media stakeholders, and workers’ representatives to ensure that more Tanzanians are informed, protected, and empowered through the country’s social protection systems.
