The Dynamics of Workers’ Participation and Decision Making in Tanzania: Lessons from Public and Private Enterprises

Abstract

With the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs, the prospects of workers participation and their decision-making in African countries particularly in Tanzania were jeopardized. For almost over two decades, the tendency has been to privatize the national parastatals without discrimination.   The result has been maximization of income and profit generation and minimization of workers’ participation and their decision-making. This is well demonstrated by the information obtained from a sample of 100 respondents from ten trade unions that were purposively selected  as a case study.  The study was conducted in four municipals that were Musoma, Ilemela, Temeke and Kinondoni. Data were collected using both qualitative and quantitative methods Data were collected from the field in two phases. In the first phase, qualitative data based on workers’ participation in Tanzania during and after the introduction of structural adjustment programs in Tanzania were collected. The second phase of data collection focused on quantifying some variables on pertinent issues discussed during the in-depth interview and focus group discussions. The study concluded that the success of workers’ participation and their decision-making in any organization is possible through establishment of workers’ councils, but this will be possible if a new political culture in which the top management or employers and government will see to it that all workers’ participation and their decision-making as a cornerstone for enhancing industrial productivity.

Key words: Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), Public and Private Enterprises, Workers’ Participation, Workers’ Councils, Trade unions.

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/10-3-11

Publication date:March 31^st 2020