Martha's Story: Advocating for the Rights of Domestic Workers in Tanzania

Martha (not her real name), a 16-year-old girl from Morogoro, faced significant challenges after her parents' separation, which tragically led her to drop out of school while in Form Three. She was then approached by a lady named Neema (not a real name), who promised her a shopkeeper job in Kigoma with an agreed salary of Tshs 50,000 per month. However, upon her arrival in Kigoma, the situation drastically changed, and Martha was instead forced to work as a barmaid. During this period, Martha was also subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation by customers, while her boss, Rose, unjustly kept all the earnings.

After some time, Martha bravely managed to escape from the bar. She met a sympathetic neighbour, Prisca Nelson, who had been participating in Wote Sawa community sessions on the rights of domestic workers. Prisca helped Martha understand her rights and where to report. She also connected her with a social welfare officer.

Martha was then referred to Wote Sawa for a temporary shelter and support while her case was being handled. During her stay at the safe house, Martha not only found a haven but also completed vocational training in tailoring.

Following a thorough investigation, Martha's former boss, Neema, was charged with, among other offenses, severe human trafficking. The case was lodged before the High Court – Kigoma and registered as Criminal Case Number 29127 of 2024. The accused person applied for a 'plea bargaining' arrangement, and on November 16th, 2024, she was found guilty and convicted of severe trafficking in persons.

Ultimately, Neema was sentenced to pay the victim compensation of Five Million Tanzanian Shillings (Approx.2000 USD) and a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Tanzanian Shillings (Approx. 200 USD).

In December 2024, after receiving her compensation as per the court's order, Martha was successfully reunified with her family (her mother and siblings) in Morogoro region, marking a significant step in her journey towards recovery and a brighter future.

"I was not happy with the work I was doing in Kigoma. I thought I was going to do a decent job selling in a shop, but instead, I was taken to work in a bar. I faced a lot of challenges. But I thank Wote Sawa for rescuing me and supporting me. I am happy to be back home, and I will educate my fellow girls who are going to seek jobs in urban areas," Martha said.

Martha’s story resonates with many girls in Tanzania who are forced to end their dreams at an early age due to various reasons, including early marriage, family level poverty, child labour, early pregnancies, gender-based violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.

Addressing the Challenges

In addressing these challenges, Wote Sawa Tanzania, in collaboration with the Tanzania Domestic Workers Network and with financial and thought leadership support from Women Fund Tanzania Trust, implemented a series of girl child targeted initiatives focused on advocating for the rights, dignity, and well-being of domestic workers in the country. The interventions were executed in close partnership with other member organizations and key state and non-state stakeholders.

According to Demitile Faustine, TDWN coordinator, some of the interventions implemented included: awareness raising on the rights of domestic workers, community meetings, provision of safe houses, psychosocial support, reintegration, rescue case management, and legal aid.

Community dialogues were also held in Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, and Morogoro, which facilitated grassroots discussions on the challenges domestic workers face and the importance of formalizing the sector.

"In collaboration with our members, we also conducted media engagement sessions, including radio, television, and online platforms, to sensitize the public and policymakers on domestic workers' rights and the need for improved legal protection," Faustine explained.

The network is routinely used as a mouth piece to amplify domestic workers voices and aspirations in strategic meetings organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO and other key stakeholders focusing on the ratification process of ILO Convention 189 and strengthening legal enforcement mechanisms. Other initiatives such as engagement with parliamentarians to follow up on national-level progress regarding the ILO ratification process and the inclusion of domestic workers in national labour law reforms, as well as using Domestic Workers Day to advocate for improved working conditions and recognition of domestic work.

Results and Impact

As a result of the intervention, there has been an increase in girls' empowerment due to increased understanding of their rights, increased reporting of gender-based violence and exploitation incidences, mobilization of over 800 community members through dialogues - empowering them to demand the rights of domestic workers, enhanced visibility and engagement with the ILO, influencing the national ratification agenda, and strengthened collaboration with media houses, leading to increased public awareness.

The Tanzania Domestic Workers Network (TDWN) comprises of 12 members organizations domicile in five regions of Morogoro, Pwani, Mara, Dar es Salaam, and Mwanza. It was formed in 2022 with support from Women Fund Tanzania Trust.