Tanzania Takes Over Chair of Regional Labour Migration Body
Tanzania has assumed the chairmanship of the Regional Technical Advisory Committee on Labour Mobility for East and Horn of Africa countries, taking over from Uganda, according to AllAfrica reporting from Dodoma.
The handover places the Tanzanian government at the centre of regional migration diplomacy for the duration of its tenure. The committee was established to strengthen regional cooperation on managing safe, orderly and regular labour migration across a region that has long functioned as both a source and a transit corridor for significant cross-border movement of workers.
Mandate and membership
The Regional Technical Advisory Committee on Labour Mobility brings together governments from across East and the Horn of Africa to coordinate policy on worker mobility, labour protections, and the regulatory frameworks that govern cross-border employment. The body operates as a technical platform, supporting the development of common approaches to migration governance rather than functioning as a binding legislative mechanism.
Tanzania’s new role places it alongside East African Community partners, including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, which operate within a common market framework that already includes provisions for the free movement of workers. The wider Horn of Africa — encompassing Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea and South Sudan — has been a longstanding focus of international migration policy given the scale of irregular flows and persistent labour-market pressures both within and beyond the region.
Broader context
The shift in chairmanship comes amid continued international attention to labour migration governance in Africa. The International Organization for Migration and the African Union have both promoted frameworks linking migration policy to development, while continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area have underscored the importance of harmonised rules for worker mobility.
As chair, Tanzania is expected to convene committee meetings and guide the agenda on labour mobility priorities during its tenure, with the stated focus on coordinating policy that supports safe, orderly and regular migration across the region.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
- AllAfrica — Tanzania: Tanzania Chairs Regional Labour Migration Committee
- dailynews.co.tz — Tanzania chairs regional labour migration committee
