Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes the information and copies of the legislation supplied in the Government's report in reply to its previous comments. It requests the Government to furnish further information on the following provisions of the Convention:

Article 1, paragraph 3, of the Convention. According to the report, no use is made of the services of voluntary nursing personnel in Zanzibar and hence no special rules have been established concerning such staff. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on whether there are voluntary nursing personnel in mainland Tanzania, and if so whether any special rules have been adopted concerning them.

Article 2. The Committee notes the information communicated by the Government on nursing policies in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar. It requests the Government to supply copies of the Acts governing the Government's policy in respect of all services provided in public and private hospitals. Please furnish any available information on the nature of consultations carried out in this respect between the Government, the Nurses and Midwives Council and the trade unions concerned.

Article 2, paragraph 2(b). The Committee notes the information concerning the working conditions of nursing personnel employed in the public sector in Zanzibar. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the working conditions, including career prospects and remuneration of nursing personnel, in the private sector. Please supply copies of the legislative provisions regulating employment and working conditions of the nursing personnel both in the public and private sector, in Zanzibar as well as in mainland Tanzania.

Article 5, paragraph 1. Please supply more detailed information on the participation of nursing personnel in the planning of nursing services and the consultation with such personnel on decisions concerning them at all levels, especially in hospitals or health centres, in both the private and public sectors.

Article 5, paragraph 2. The Committee notes the statement in the report that the determination of conditions of employment and work in Zanzibar is ensured through discussions with nursing personnel. Please indicate whether such consultations are provided for in any legal text, and if so, please supply a copy of it. Please indicate also how the conditions of work of nursing personnel are determined in mainland Tanzania, and provide copies of rules or regulations or collective agreements fixing these conditions.

Article 5, paragraph 3. The Committee notes the information concerning mainland Tanzania on the subject of individual disputes. It would appreciate receiving information on the methods used for settling collective disputes. The Committee notes that the settlement of disputes arising in connection with termination of terms and conditions of employment of nursing personnel in Zanzibar is sought through negotiation with the National Workers' Organisation (JUWATA) and through discussion meetings and agreements. It requests the Government to supply additional information on the settlement of such disputes as concern nursing personnel. The Committee notes that the report states that a procedure other than negotiation was established by the Government of Zanzibar; please provide information on this procedure.

Article 6. The Committee notes the information supplied in the reports relating to conditions of work for nursing personnel in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar. It requests the Government to supply copies of the legislative provisions regulating each of the subjects covered in this Article, in so far as they may differ from the provisions applicable to all workers. It appears from the information in the report that conditions of work for nursing personnel are different in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information relating to an occupational health nurse, who is responsible in Zanzibar for laying down occupational health rules and for advising the Minister on their implementation. Please indicate whether similar provisions have been put into place in mainland Tanzania. The Committee also requests the Government to supply more detailed information on the activities of this nurse, especially in respect of the adapting of existing laws and regulations to the special nature of nursing work. The Committee also hopes that the Government will indicate the necessary measures taken both in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar to apply the existing health and safety regulations to nursing personnel, and to adapt those regulations to the special nature of nursing work, inter alia, to protect nursing personnel against occupational exposure to the AIDS virus.

Point V of the report form. The Committee notes the information and statistics supplied on nursing personnel in Zanzibar. It requests the Government to continue to provide such information both in respect of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. Please indicate in particular the distribution of nursing personnel between the public and private sectors, the number of persons entering and leaving the profession, the number of nursing personnel in relation to population, and the number of patients and of other workers in the health field, in accordance with this point of the report form.