The Guest of Honour, his Excellency, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar,

Amb. Seif Ali Idi , Second Vice President of Zanzibar 

 

Hon. Maudline Cyrus Castico, Minister for Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Youth Women and Children for Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar,

 

Speaker of the Representative council

 

Chairman of ZATUC

 

Secretary General, ZATUC, Mr. Khamis Mwinyi Mohammed,

 

Executive Director, ZANEMA,  Mr. Salahi Salim Salahi ,

 

Honourable Ministers,

 

Honourable members of representative council,

 

Honourable Regional Commissioner Ungunja North 

Senior Government Officials

 

 

Distinguished partners and workers,

 

Invited Guests, Media Corps, Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

HONGERENI SANA KWA SIKUKUU YA WAFANYAKAZI DUNIANI!!!!

 

Today is an opportunity to celebrate with you all on what you are doing in promoting and defending workers’ rights and interests symbolizing workers’ solidarity and the struggle for decent working conditions.  

 

On behalf of the ILO, our Director General Mr. Guy Ryder and ILO office Dar es Salaam I hereby express our sincere greetings to you all.  

 

The ILO Director General in his May Day Statement notes that …………………………………………………..

 

The ILO was founded on the principle that universal and lasting peace can be achieved only if it is based on social justice. The basic premise is that poverty anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere.

 

That is why I wish to recognize your solidarity today.  I recognize that what happens in the world of work is central not just to you in your working lives, but to your country. 

Allow me to recall the four freedoms which constitute not just the ILO’s global fundamental principles and rights at work, but are by now internationally recognized principles across the world:

• Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
• Freedom from discrimination in employment and occupation, 
• Freedom from forced labour, and
• Freedom from child labour.

 

These are enabling rights, the foundation for social progress and the realization of social justice. The principles underlying them are embodied in eight international labour conventions that are promoted by ILO, all of which Tanzania has ratified and already under implementation at various stages. These Rights are also captured well by the theme of this year’s Labour day celebrations which recognizes well that the economy of any country depends on the welfare and rights of its workers. I  Congratulates Zanzibar for continued improvements of the working conditions of its workers!

 

Your Excellency, the Revolutionary Government with partnerships and Collaboration with workers (ZATUC) and Employers (ZANEMA) have worked and continue to work hard to make decent work a reality in Zanzibar. This reality includes improving working conditions for workers and creating more and better employment opportunities in Zanzibar. ILO has been involved is supporting some of these initiatives such as:

 

1.       The Government in collaboration with employers and workers is supporting the introduction of apprenticeship programme which is unique training arrangement that provides relevant skills and enhances employability of Zanzibar youth.

 

2.       Through the tripartite dialogue and consultations, the Government  has developed Employment code of Conduct for  people living with HIV 

 

3.       The Government in consultations and collaboration from workers and employers continue to strengthen capacity of institutions and individuals on issues related to social protection such as (universal old age pension scheme, social protection floors and conduction of actuarial valuation)

 

4.       The on-going current work on studying the minimum wages in Zanzibar  

 

From our side, the ILO is committed to supporting you.  Working together with you, workers, as well as employers and the Government, we aim to finalize a Decent Work Country Programme for the period 2017-2021 which is aligned with the Zanzibar development plan vision 2020

 

The Decent Work Country Program aims to contribute towards the reduction of poverty through inclusive growth and decent employment.  Its priorities are to create employment and increase employability, enhance social protection, strengthen social dialogue and promote the fundamental principles and rights at work.

 

I can mention many more, of course, but the list is much longer than the available time would allow me! 

 

Your excellency, Esteemed guests, brothers and sisters:

 

The challenges of creating Decent Work are not particular to Zanzibar. In the world over, there are 40 million people who enter the labour market each year. Zanzibar has its good share of labour market entrants that it cannot directly absorb..

 

Here I commend the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary council and his Government for the long term objectives under vision 2020 which aim to transform Zanzibar economically and socially to attain Middle income status and which also includes access to Decent Work.

 

Once again, I would like to reiterate the willingness of the United Nations in general, through its UN Develop Assistance Plan, and specifically the ILO, to assist on the development path towards economic transformation, human development and decent work FOR ALL!

 

ASANTENI SANA, NAWATAKIA SIKUKUU NJEMA!