Dar es Salaam. The government has signed five international labour agreements aimed at widening employment opportunities for Tanzanians abroad, as negotiations on a further 16 bilateral employment pacts enter their final stages.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office [Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations], Mr Deus Sangu, announced the development on February 7, 2026, during a gala dinner in Dar es Salaam held to mark the official launch of the Imbeju–Bongo Fursa programme and the Youth Review Magazine, organised by the National Economic and Development Council (NEDC).
Mr Sangu said the agreements form part of the government’s broader strategy to address youth unemployment by expanding access to regulated and dignified employment opportunities beyond Tanzania’s borders, while ensuring the protection of workers’ rights.
“I recently visited the United Arab Emirates, where I held extensive discussions with labour ministers from several countries. All of them expressed strong interest in cooperating with Tanzania. As a result, we have so far signed five agreements that are ready for implementation and will open up overseas employment opportunities for our young people,” he said.
He added that the Ministry is currently concluding negotiations on 16 additional international labour agreements, which, once finalised, will significantly increase the number of Tanzanians able to access structured employment abroad under formal arrangements.
According to Mr Sangu, the agreements are aligned with the National Development Vision, which emphasises employment creation, skills development and youth empowerment as central pillars of economic transformation.
He said the government is determined to ensure that labour migration is conducted in a safe, orderly and mutually beneficial manner, guided by clear policies and regulatory frameworks.
“Our objective is not merely to export labour, but to create opportunities that are secure, decent and sustainable, while also enhancing skills transfer and remittances that contribute to national development,” he said.
The minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms for labour export, including capacity-building for recruitment agencies, stricter monitoring and enhanced bilateral cooperation with host countries to safeguard the welfare of Tanzanian workers.
Speaking at the same event, NEDC Director Mr Jesse Madauda said the Imbeju–Bongo Fursa programme and the Youth Review Magazine were designed to inspire young people and showcase their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial potential to both local and international investors.
“Our aim is to motivate the youth while providing a platform that connects them with investors, enabling them to demonstrate their innovations and business ideas, and to highlight the progress they have made. This makes it easier for investors and partners to identify and support promising ventures,” he said.
Mr Madauda noted that youth entrepreneurship remains a critical driver of job creation and economic diversification, and said initiatives that highlight success stories and emerging opportunities are essential in nurturing a vibrant enterprise culture.
One of the entrepreneurs, Ms Elizabeth Consoli, commended the government for its continued support for innovative young entrepreneurs, saying such backing was vital in helping them scale up their ventures.
She said the government’s engagement had enabled many entrepreneurs to move from one stage of development to another, fostering confidence and resilience in a highly competitive business environment.
The gala dinner brought together senior government officials, development partners, private sector leaders and youth entrepreneurs, reflecting a growing consensus on the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing unemployment and unlocking economic opportunities for Tanzania’s expanding young population.
