Date of publication:

01/09/2026

United Republic of Tanzania (the)

Do domestic laws and policies allow forcibly displaced and stateless persons to access state employment services?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Analysis

Tanzania’s legal and policy approach places tight controls on the employment rights of refugees and stateless persons. The National Refugee Policy of 2003 enforces an encampment policy, restricting refugees to designated settlements and limiting their access to labor markets and economic opportunities outside these areas. In parallel, the Non-Citizens (Employment Regulation) Act No. 1 of 2015 requires all non-citizens—including refugees and stateless individuals—to obtain formal work permits before engaging in any form of employment.

While these permits are available in law, they are rarely issued in practice, meaning that access to the formal labor market for these groups is highly constrained and often limited to humanitarian or NGO-facilitated livelihood initiatives within or near camps.

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    The National Refugee Policy

    Legal provision

    Section 17 - Refugees and Employment

    The government acknowledges that adequate protection of refugees requires the attainment of a degree of self sufficiency. Furthermore, allowing refugees to use their skills or develop new ones while in exile will facilitate meaningful reintegration in their countries of origin when they are able to return. In this regard this policy takes into account the National Employment Policy which is multi-sectoral in nature, because employment issues are the concern of everybody and calls for the participation of many stakeholders beside the government. It is worth pointing out that refugees are a human resource which could be utilized for the Improvement of the economy and betterment of life and living standards. The employment policy however, takes a look at the national employment growth potentials and reveals that the labour market is generally in crisis and faces many challenges. It is in this respect that the government will continue to commit itself to the humanitarian deed, meanwhile it will continue to look for solutions to its unemployment problem and this calls for all stakeholders to join hand in developing a conducive environment for more employment opportunities. As far as refugees concerned, the government will allow small income generating activities to be undertaken within the camps.

    Non-Citizens (Employment Regulation) Act

    Legal provision

    Section 9.2 - Employment and engagement of non-citizens

    A non-citizen shall not engage in any prescribed trade, business, profession or other occupation except in accordance with the terms of an appropriate permit issued in accordance with this Act.