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By The Respondents Reporter
The Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) has called on mining companies and mine owners across Tanzania to register their employees with the fund and contribute 0.5 per cent of workers’ salaries to strengthen social protection in the mining sector.
The appeal was made during an engagement meeting between WCF officials and leaders of Tanzanite miners in Mirerani Township, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region.
Speaking on behalf of the WCF Director General, Ms Naanjela Msangi said employers who make the required monthly contributions help ensure that workers are protected against workplace accidents, occupational diseases and other work-related risks.
She said employees registered under the scheme are eligible for compensation and support in cases of injury, illness or death resulting from work-related incidents.
According to Msangi, the fund provides seven key benefits, including medical care, temporary and permanent disability compensation, caregiver support, rehabilitation services, funeral assistance and benefits for dependants of deceased workers.
“Employers are required to contribute only 0.5 per cent of each worker’s salary. By fulfilling this legal obligation, they contribute significantly to protecting the country’s workforce,” she said.
She added that beyond compensation, WCF also conducts awareness programmes aimed at helping employers and employees identify and mitigate occupational hazards in their workplaces.
As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the fund has also distributed protective face masks in the Mirerani mining area to help reduce workplace-related illnesses and accidents.
The Vice-Chairperson of the Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA), Ms Rachel Njau, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important safety net for workers in the mining industry.
She urged WCF to expand awareness campaigns among mine owners, managers and miners to improve understanding of the fund’s benefits and obligations.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Manyara Regional Miners Association (MAREMA), Mr Tariq James, noted that while the initiative is beneficial, many Tanzanite miners are compensated through profit-sharing arrangements rather than fixed salaries.
He suggested that mine owners could use the national minimum wage as a basis for calculating contributions to ensure workers are covered by the scheme.
A miner, Mr Zephania Joseph, said the programme would provide much-needed protection for workers and should be embraced by stakeholders throughout the mining industry.
The fund’s campaign comes amid broader efforts to improve occupational safety, social protection and welfare standards in Tanzania’s mining sector, one of the country’s key economic contributors.
