Dodoma: Leaders of the Tanzania Media Workers’ Association (JOWUTA), have met with the Minister of Labor, Employment, Youth and the Disabled, Mr. Ridhiwani Kikwete and the Commissioner for Labor, Mrs. Suzan Mkangwa to discuss how to resolve the challenges of workers in the media in the country and issues of employment contracts and better working conditions.
The meeting was held yesterday in Dodoma at the Office of the Minister of Labor, Employment, Youth and the Disabled and was also attended by some officials of the ministry.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Kikwete said his ministry is not satisfied with the conditions of most workers in the media and the matter must be resolved.
“I have called you here today to talk together about the challenges of work in your sector. In fact, I personally know your challenges and we want to work on them”, he said
He said he knows that many journalists do not have work contracts, are unemployed and have been facing many challenges that must come to an end.
“As we discussed in Arusha, we agreed today to meet again here with the Commissioner of Labor present to see how we can help journalists in the country to work in a better environment”, he said
He said that every sector in the country must work by adhering to existing labor laws instead of working in a haphazard manner and ending up struggling in old age or when you encounter problems, unable to help yourself.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of JOWUTA, Mussa Juma Siwayombe, requested the Ministry to help journalists work in a better environment and labor laws be followed as in other sectors.
He said more than 80 percent of journalists in the country work without employment or legal contracts, do not have health insurance or pension funds and some have worked for more than 10 years in that situation.
“We strongly urge the Commissioner for Labor to assist this sector so that employers comply with labor laws and we also request regular inspections in media outlets to ensure that media owners comply with labor laws,” he said.
Commenting on the request by JOWUTA, the Commissioner for Labor, Mkangwa said his Office is ready to work with JOWUTA to help resolve these challenges in the media.
However, Mkangwa said it is also important for journalists themselves to know their rights, including working after having legally recognized contracts.
“We can conduct inspections but your sector has several systemic challenges including the presence of employees who write news for payment after the news is used (correspondent), journalists with temporary contracts (retainer) and others who do not have contracts but are employed,” he said.
He said when inspections are conducted, some employers only issue contracts to those who are employed, so it is difficult to know other groups if you do not have enough information.
“Now JOWUTA, you can help by providing accurate information on the conditions of employees in each media outlet so that we can work on them,” he said.
He said his office will also continue to provide education on labor laws to journalists and other employees so that they can work in accordance with the law.
JOWUTA Secretary General, Mr. Seleman Msuya said JOWUTA thanks the government for the good work being done by the Accreditation Board to ensure that those working in the media have professional qualifications.
He said it is very important that the emphasis on accreditation for journalists goes hand in hand with improving the interests of journalists, including being given contracts, being insured and having other benefits.
“Currently, there are always donations from sick journalists as many do not have insurance or are not in social security funds”, he said.
