from Dave Windsor
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to prepare a publication for the purpose of attracting investment from abroad, The result: "Investment Opportunities in Tanganyika" offers as one of the inducements to potential investors the following section on "Employment" s
",,eePaid employment is heavily concentrated in the agricultural sector, but has declined in most sectors since 1961. During these three years, however, average earnings have been rising, and part of the decline is attributable to the introduction of minimum wages legislation in 1962. The basic monthly minimum wage for employees aged over 18 years was laid down in the Wages Regulation Order as 150/- in Dar es Salaam and Tanga, 125/- per month in the 18 other main tomships, and 100/- in other areas. In practice in 1963 average cash earnings by all African male employees amounted to 144/~ per month in the private sector and 216/- per month in the public sector, Average earnings by African male employees in agriculture rose from 84/~ in 1962 to 117/- in 1963, and in manufacturing industry from 146/- to 177/-"
The British businessman, smacking his lips at the thought of such low wages, might wonder whether there is a catch or not. Perhaps such a situa~ tion would give rise to militancy, he might wonder. But he need have no fear: further on we reads
"The Tanganyiken labour force is normally a stable one. The number of strikes rose sharply in the year after independence, due largely to disturbances in the sisal industry, and the government introduced the Trades Disputes (Settlement) Act in the same year year to amend the situat~ ion, The Act makes strikes and lockouts illegal unless the statutory conciliation procedure has first been followed,"
The survey gives the following table as evidence of the success of this move to “amend” the situation: Year Number of man/days lost through trades disputes
Manufacturing Sisal Total all sectors 1961 4,446 45,646 119,254 1962 35,316 186,975 417,474 1963 6 76,057 775195 lst quarter
1964 = 2,774 3,092
The "success" is not so surprising because:
“Further legislation was introduced in 1964 to dissolve the existing 13 trade unions and to substitute one National Union of Tanganyikan Workers (NUTA). The general and deputy secretary of the new union are presidential appointments; the first general secretary is the Minister of Labour (an ex-trade union leader)."