Labour disputes prevention mechanisms and industrial relations: A case of wood industry in Mufindi district, Tanzania

Abstract

The study was on disputes prevention mechanism and industrial relations, a case of wood industry in Mufindi district, Tanzania. The study objective was to investigate the contribution of labour disputes prevention mechanisms to industrial relations. The study presumed that labour disputes prevention mechanisms underperform, hence rampant Labour disputes. Three divisions were involved: Kibengu, Ifwagi and Kasanga. Activities in the wood industry include planting tree seedlings, harvest, lumbering, selling and buying timber. Both the government and private sector (especially from harvest level) carry activities in the industry. Random sampling method was used to tree seedling planters, sawing machine operators, log draggers and saw doctoring; purposeful sampling method was used to key informants because of their positions and technical knowledge. Primary data collection used guided questionnaires, interview, focused group discussion and observation; secondary data was collected from previous study reports. The study revealed that Labour disputes in the wood industry in Mufindi District are mainly based on unfair termination of employment contracts and underpayment of wages. It was also found that there were little Labour disputes prevention measures undertaken by the inspectorate, Workers’ Education Department and trade unions. Therefore the study realized that there is no or very little effort exerted to prevent Labour disputes in the wood industry in Mufindi District. To curb rampant Labour disputes in the wood industry in Mufindi District the study recommended: trade unions should take responsibility of capacity building among its members. Employers should adopt workers’ participation in management style. Workers will participate in setting goals, rules and regulations, monitoring and evaluation hence productivity will get stimulated. For full performance the inspectorate and workers’ education department should be strengthened.