The President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has announced an increase in the minimum wage from Shs. 300,000 to Shs. 500,000 per month.
President Dr. Mwinyi announced the increase on May 01, 2026, at the height of the International Workers’ Day celebrations held at the Kizimbani Agricultural Exhibition Grounds, Mjini Magharibi Region.
Dr. Mwinyi said the new wage rate will start being paid from January 2027 and informed that the measure has taken into account the country’s economic situation, the cost of living, and to provide incentives for workers to carry out their duties effectively.
He explained that the decision is in line with the Government’s commitment to improving the working environment and ensuring that employees receive their entitlements on time and called on all employees to continue working with hard work, effort, discipline and patriotism to bring about sustainable development in Zanzibar.
President Dr. Mwinyi said the Government recognizes the great contribution made by public and private sector employees, and will continue to collaborate with trade unions to address all challenges facing employees in the country.
He noted that the Eighth Phase Government has achieved great success since it came to power in 2020, by successfully strengthening the interests of employees through adjusting and increasing salaries, reviewing employee allowances and benefits, as well as strengthening social security benefits and establishing a health insurance fund for all employees and their families.
He commended the trilateral partnership between the Ministry of Labour and Investment, the Tanzania Trade Union Confederation (ZATUC), and the Zanzibar Employers’ Association (ZANEMA) for providing solutions to the challenges of workers and employers in general, where 24 out of 29 challenges have already been resolved.
President Dr. Mwinyi has announced that the Government has allocated 7,500 job opportunities in the 2026–2027 financial year, as well as continuing to strengthen the interests of workers.
Concluding his speech, President Dr. Mwinyi called on trade unions to continue collaborating with the Government with the aim of providing solutions to the challenges of workers, and urged workers to work hard, be patriotic, and prioritize the interests of the public.
