Workers in Morogoro Region have renewed their call for the government to resolve persistent employee welfare challenges, including low salaries, failure to remit statutory contributions to pension funds, and unresolved salary arrears.
Speaking at the regional International Workers’ Day celebrations held at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro, Hellen Kobero, Regional Secretary of the Tanzania Local Government Workers Union (TALGWU), highlighted these concerns. TALGWU coordinated this year’s May Day event in the region.
Kobero further cited the unresolved claims of workers who were wrongfully dismissed in 2017 and reinstated in 2018, but who have yet to receive their back pay and entitlements from several local authorities.
Despite these challenges, Kobero commended the government for recent positive actions, including the recruitment of new employees, promotions, and cadre restructuring for civil servants.
Guest of honor and Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Adam Malima, urged workers to fully participate in the upcoming 2025 general elections, emphasizing the importance of voter registration as a key civic duty.
Malima also acknowledged the workers’ concerns, assuring them that some of the issues raised would be addressed directly while others would be escalated to higher levels of government.
He called on government ministries and departments to prioritize budget planning for debt repayments and encouraged labor unions to collaborate in compiling comprehensive lists of outstanding claims.
At a separate post-celebration event for Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) staff, Amandus Muhairwa, SUA’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Planning, Finance and Administration speaking on behalf of Vice Chancellor Prof. Raphael Chibunda affirmed the university's commitment to addressing staff concerns.
He praised the contributions of staff and union leaders at the institution, and congratulated employees who received awards for outstanding performance.
Muhairwa also used the occasion to encourage workers to prepare and participate actively in the 2025 general elections.
The national theme for Workers’ Day 2025 is:“Let the 2025 General Election Bring Leaders Who Care About Workers’ Welfare Let’s All Participate.”