Swahili
TANZANIA PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE URGES MORE STAFF FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY AGENCY
A Tanzanian parliamentary committee has urged the government to increase staffing at the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), saying additional experts are needed to strengthen workplace safety, health and workers' welfare across the country.
Hon. Hawa Chakoma, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Community Development, made the recommendation on Aug. 12 during a meeting in Dodoma to review implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 297, 2023 edition.
The review covered workplace registration and public awareness of occupational safety and health during the 2025/26 financial year.
Presenting the government's report, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Labour, Employment and Relations, Hon. Deus Sangu, said OSHA had registered 16,813 workplaces during the financial year and provided safety and health training to 45,089 stakeholders.
The number trained exceeded the authority's target of reaching 40,000 people, according to the report.
Hon. Chakoma said OSHA's existing workforce of 376 employees was insufficient to meet the institution's operational needs and called on the government to provide additional personnel to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively.
OSHA Executive Director, Khadija Mwenda told committee members that workplaces seeking registration must meet established requirements, including the presence of two interdependent parties: an employer and an employee.
Sangu said the government would continue raising awareness among employers and workers in both the public and private sectors to encourage compliance with occupational safety and health requirements.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Prime Minister's Office, including Permanent Secretary Mary Maganga and Mwenda.
The committee's recommendation comes as OSHA continues registering workplaces and expanding training programmes aimed at improving compliance with safety and health standards across Tanzania.