August 2, 2025

Employees with disabilities in Tanzania in final process to initiate special Trade Union

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 By STAFF REPORTER. Dodoma

THE Tanzania Trade Union of Workers with Disabilities (TATUWOD) is working to finalize some enwinding legal issues to establish the Trade Union.

Among others, the maiden prospective Union will be responsible for advocating for the statutory rights of the handicapped Tanzanians at their respective working places.

Last year, the physically challenged employees from different regions and institutions teamed up to mull over how best to initiate their tailor-made trade union for voicing for their rights at working places.

As a positive result, the meeting picked a steering committee to oversee and coordinate needed protocols for the establishment and registration of the much- needed trade union.

The selected committee had successfully managed to compile a 100 paged constitution proposal draft, as well as the prospectus union regulations,  the crucial two drafts that are now receiving final eyes from the members in readiness of official approval by the relevant authorities.

Giving an exclusive to Sematvmedia, the Technical Director for the people with disabilities, Peter Charles, informed that they’re expecting to have a special meeting next week in Dodoma Capital City for the final perusal and improvements of the constitutional draft, in order to submit it to the responsible authority for the official approval.

Establishment of the trade union is in line with the country’s set laws towards the employees with disabilities, but also, it adheres to international laws,” he expressed.

He further informed that among the pending issues on the process to be discussed, include the proposed trade union title,  objectives, membership registration, as well as the involved responsibilities.

Others are the needed protocols in establishment of the union’s Office of Secretary General,  roles of Secretary General,  and selection of the union’s board members, according to him.

“The general quest is to ensure the workers with disabilities are treated equally at their working places, whereby there must be a presence of friendly infrastructures to cater for the physical requirements of people with disabilities at working places,” Charles briefed.

He observed that the government in cooperation with the development partners and other stakeholders in the private sector have so far worked to improve policies and livelihoods of the physically handicapped employees,  but much more must be put in place to erode the remaining setbacks.

Should the eagerly-awaited registration greenlighted, he sounded to have remained optimistic that the foreseen Tanzania Trade Union of Workers with Disabilities will play a significant role to help contain the long- standing challenges and numerous plights haunting the group.

Under the aspiration, there’re more 200 workers with physical disabilities from different public and private entities, including the Tanzania Railway Company (TRC), NMB Bank Plc, National Water Fund, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), the Office of the Chief Chemistry,  Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), to mention but a few.

Other key stakeholders behind the formation of the helpful trade union include Christian Blind Mission  (CBM),  KCB and CRDB Bank Plc, Ikupa Trust Fund (ITF) and the Foundation for Civil Society ( FCS)

According to the NMB’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Emmanuel Akonaay, the bank feels proud to be part of the move.

“NMB has been, and will further continue to support the concerted efforts to help the people with disabilities in Tanzania to escape from the shackles of discrimination at working areas,” he said.

Special Seat MP, Stella Ikupa, for her part appreciated the numerous support being rolled out by the stakeholders to back up the different initiatives for supporting the disabled communities in the country.

“We, Ikupa Trust Fund per se, cannot stand alone to push for the welfare and development of the disabled in the country, this area calls for collective interventions,” she appreciated.

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