Improving the recognition and working conditions of domestic workers in Tanzania
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Improving the recognition and working conditions of domestic workers in Tanzania
I-2 Geographical coverage
TZA
I-2-A Region/country
United Republic of Tanzania
I-2-R Region
Africa
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2024
I-3-B Initiative end date
2026
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Civil society, including NGOs
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
Yes
II-1 Justification of the initiative
This intervention responds to the urgent need to reduce decent work deficits in Tanzania’s fast-growing domestic work sector, which remains largely informal. The 2020/21 Integrated Labour Force Survey (ILFS) reported that Tanzania had 23,536,135 employed individuals of these, 5.6 per cent worked in the domestic sector, with women making up 66.5 per cent and men 33.5 per cent of the workforce, indicating that women represent a larger share of employment in this sector. Domestic workers often lack effective legal protection, social security, and recognition as skilled care workers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and poor working conditions. Many work without formal contracts, which hinders enforcement of their labour rights and leaves them unprotected. They frequently earn below the minimum wage, face irregular payments, long working hours in unsafe conditions, and have limited access to social security benefits. Many also face social stigma, limited education and training opportunities, weak union representation, and high levels of gender discrimination, violence and harassment factors that further deepen their vulnerability.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
No sectoral focus
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Medium enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Not applicable
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Own-account workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Domestic workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Home-based workers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Young people
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Migrants or forcibly displaced persons
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
People with disabilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
People living with HIV
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, through social dialogue
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
This intervention focuses on supporting and strengthening the capacity of tripartite constituents, including the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), the Conservation, Hotels, Domestic and Allied Workers Union (CHODAWU), and the Prime Minister’s Office- Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability, to ensure that domestic workers are effectively protected by labour laws, better recognised as skilled, professional care workers, and integrated as an essential part of the national care workforce.This aligns with the government’s commitment under the Tanzania Generation Equality Plan (TGEP 2021–2026) to expand gender-responsive care investments, reform laws and policies, and create decent care jobs that recognise, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent care work. This initiative directly contributes to the implementation of the TGEP Action Plan, which emphasises the need to formalise domestic work, extend collective insurance and social protection, including maternity protection, and professionalise the sector.Strengthening sectoral and skills development policies to improve the quality and attractiveness of care work, with a focus on domestic work.Adoption of specific measures/strategies to strengthen the rights of care workers, with a focus on domestic workers in the informal economy.Promoting participation of domestic workers in social dialogue mechanisms.
II-3 Type of initiative
Policy / strategy
II-3 Type of initiative
Project / pilot intervention
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Reward care workers
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Representation of care workers
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Employment policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Skills policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Social Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Labour Protection policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Formalization of informal care jobs and enterprises
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting active labour market policies, education and training, upskilling and re-skilling, skills recognition and skills certification
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the undervaluation of care work by raising public awareness
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Work-life balance policies and measures, including organization, time and location of work, and other terms and conditions of employment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Preventing and addressing all forms of discrimination against care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Ensuring effective access to labour protection and social security, including through labour inspection, for all care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Policies and strategies on working time, wages, and occupational safety and health, including preventing and addressing violence and harassment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting the voice and representation of, and consulting with, care worker organizations, organizations of employers of care workers and unpaid family carers
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
The initiative linked domestic workers to certified training through TVET programmes. It reviewed the Domestic Work Curriculum, resulting in improved integration of gender equality, legal rights, and social diversity issues into skills training programs for domestic workers, enhancing their empowerment and workplace protectionA National strategy for domestic workers was developed, providing a comprehensive approach, going beyond sole legal labour reforms. It established practical mechanisms for enforcement, monitoring, and promotion of these labour laws creating stronger conditions for decent work, better protections and improved livelihood for domestic workers.The Labour Disputes Resolution Training Guide for Domestic Workers was designed, equipping domestic workers with clear guidance on how to navigate the Commission for Mediation and Arbitration (CMA) dispute resolution process. As a result, domestic workers are now equipped with practical knowledge to assert their rights confidently and effectively. This has led to healthier employer workers relations, improved decent work conditions and fairer treatment overall.In 2025, over 70 domestic workers time made a historic appearance at the National May Day celebrations. They demanded actions towards improved labour protections and decent working conditions. The recognition of domestic workers by the Minister of State responsible for Labour issues at the event drew a record media coverage and it led to strong public support for the ratification of ILO Convention No. 189. The Minister of State’s pledge in Parliament to fast-track the ratification of ILO Convention 189 signalled a major step towards securing fair treatment, contracts, and decent working conditions for domestic workers nationwide.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
This initiative introduces an integrated and gender-responsive approach that goes beyond traditional awareness-raising or isolated legal reforms. By formally recognizing domestic work as skilled care work, linking workers to certified training through TVET programmes, and piloting household inspection guidelines, it tackles informality at its root. The use of digital platforms to expand access to rights information and the creation of peer educator networks further empower workers from within. Combined with strengthened social dialogue and incentives for employers to formalize contracts, this model sets a new standard for advancing decent work in Tanzania’s care economy, transforming an often invisible and undervalued sector into one with recognised skills, protections, and pathways for decent and secure employment.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
One of the main challenges during the design and initial implementation was the scale of decent work deficits facing domestic workers in Tanzania — from weak legal protections to limited access to social protection. Social partners rightly demanded a comprehensive approach addressing not just rights at work but also broader social security and enforcement measures. However, the ambitious scope required more time and resources than the two-year timeframe and available budget could accommodate. To address this, the initiative was carefully streamlined to prioritise high-impact activities that could deliver visible results within the timeframe, while aligning closely with the social partners’ priorities. This meant focusing on interventions such as skills recognition, legal awareness, peer networks, and piloting household inspections, which lay strong foundations for longer-term reforms and future resource mobilisation.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
A key lesson learned is that addressing the deep-rooted decent work deficits of domestic workers demands sustained, long-term commitment and adequate resources. Strong engagement with social partners from the outset ensured that priorities matched real needs on the ground, strengthening buy-in and ownership. Building synergies with other UN organisations, such as OHCHR, to jointly implement certain activities proved an effective way to save resources and redirect funds to high-impact initiatives identified by social partners. However, to build on these gains, future interventions should allow for a longer timeframe, greater investment in social protection measures, and stronger coordination among government, employers, and unions to maintain momentum and expand results at scale.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
Government commitment and institutionalization: The initiative counts on strong political support, including the pledge to ratify ILO Convention No. 189, and is implemented through official government structures and established social partners.Engagement with social partners: Active involvement of trade unions and employers’ organizations groups (e.g. CHODAWU, TUCTA, ATE) aligned the initiative with workers' real needs and built trust and shared responsibility.Comprehensive, integrated approach: The initiative tackled multiple dimensions of informality and decent work deficits for domestic workers (certified training and skills recognition, legal awareness, household inspection pilots).Strategic focus and resource use: Prioritizing high-impact, feasible actions within budget and time limitsPublic recognition and advocacy efforts: Visibility at national events and strong media support helps raise awareness, shift public perceptions, and drive political momentum.
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
The sustainability of this initiative depends strongly on its level of institutionalization within national systems. The work is embedded in Tanzania’s Generation Equality Programme and the ILO Decent Work Country Programme and is carried out through official government structures and established social partners such as CHODAWU, TUCTA, and ATE ensuring it is not a stand-alone effort, but part of broader policy and legal frameworks.To secure and expand these gains, several conditions are critical. Continued government commitment is needed to allocate budgets and strengthen laws and enforcement capacity, including through the ratification and domestication of ILO Convention No. 189. Supporting CHODAWU’s capacity to organise domestic workers and maintain a credible national database will also be vital for improving representation, monitoring working conditions, and ensuring workers’ voices are heard.Social partners have also called for investment in developing a long-term national curriculum to professionalise domestic work, which requires substantial resources. In parallel, behavioural change efforts to tackle negative perceptions about domestic work in Tanzania must continue, alongside stronger collaboration with other UN partners such as OHCHR and civil society actors to enhance protection. Together, these elements create the conditions for lasting, large-scale impact, embedding the recognition, protection, and advancement of domestic workers into national systems for the long term.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
This initiative demonstrates clear potential for adaptation in other countries facing similar decent work challenges for domestic workers. Developing a National Strategy, raising awareness of domestic workers’ rights, and ensuring their participation in national events are proven approaches to strengthen visibility and recognition. Establishing a long-term national curriculum improves skills while elevating the status of domestic work as skilled, professional work.Specific measures such as tailored guidelines for the Commission of Mediation and Arbitration on resolving disputes, and tax incentives to encourage formalisation can be adapted to fit national contexts. Study tours for social partners to countries that have ratified and implemented ILO Convention No. 189 offer practical opportunities to learn and apply good practices. The engagement and ownership of the tripartite partners from the development of the intervention to its implementation is essential.
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
Raising the voice of the invisible ILO Convention 189 and the future of Tanzania’s Domestic WorkersBehind every well-run home is a domestic worker whose contributions often go unseen.