2024
Tanzania
Women, Business and the Law 2024 (WBL2024) presents an index covering 190 economies and structured around the life
cycle of a working woman. In total, 35 questions are scored across eight indicators. Overall scores are then calculated by
taking the average of each indicator, with 100 representing the highest possible score. Data refer to the laws and regulations
that are applicable to the main business city (Dar es Salaam). Different rules may apply in other jurisdictions so local
legislation should be reviewed. Based on this approach, Tanzania scores 81.3 out of 100.0. The overall score for Tanzania
is higher than the regional average observed across Sub-Saharan Africa (74.0). Within the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the
maximum score observed is 97.5 (Togo).
Tanzania - Scores for Women, Business and the Law 2024
Mobility
Workplace
Pay
Marriage
Parenthood
Entrepreneur-
ship
Assets
Pension
WBL 2024 Index
Score
100
100
100
80
60
75
60
75
81.3
Relative Strengths
When it comes to constraints on freedom of movement, laws affecting women’s decisions to work, and laws affecting
women’s pay, Tanzania gets a perfect score.
Areas for Improvement
When it comes to constraints related to marriage, laws affecting women's work after having children, constraints on women
starting and running a business, gender differences in property and inheritance, and laws affecting the size of a woman's
pension, Tanzania could consider reforms to improve legal equality for women.
For example, one of the lowest scores for Tanzania is on the indicator measuring laws affecting women’s work after having
children (the WBL2024 Parenthood indicator). To improve on the Parenthood indicator, Tanzania may wish to consider
making paid leave of at least 14 weeks available to mothers, and making paid parental leave available.
Recent Reforms
No reforms were observed during the past year (October 2nd, 2022 – October 1st, 2023).
Further data details for Tanzania are available at:
https://wbl.worldbank.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/tanzania/2024
2024
QUESTION
ANSWER
LEGAL BASIS
Mobility
Can a woman choose where to live in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Can a woman travel outside her home in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Can a woman apply for a passport in the same way as a man?
Yes
Passport and Travel Documents Act, Arts. 3, 12, and First Schedule; Passport
Application Procedures
Can a woman travel outside the country in the same way as a
man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Workplace
Can a woman get a job in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Does the law prohibit discrimination in employment based on
gender?
Yes
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Sec. 7
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in employment?
Yes
Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, Sec. 12(138.D-(1)(3))
Are there criminal penalties or civil remedies for sexual harassment
in employment?
Yes
Criminal: Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, Sec. 12(138.D-(1)(3))
Civil: Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, Sec. 12(138.D-(1))
Pay
Does the law mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value?
Yes
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Sec. 7
Can a woman work at night in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Can a woman work in a job deemed dangerous in the same way as
a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Can a woman work in an industrial job in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Marriage
Is the law free of legal provisions that require a married woman to
obey her husband?
Yes
No applicable provisions could be located
Can a woman be head of household in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Is there legislation specifically addressing domestic violence?
No
No applicable provisions could be located
Can a woman obtain a judgment of divorce in the same way as a
man?
Yes
Law of Marriage Act, Sec. 99
Does a woman have the same rights to remarry as a man?
Yes
Law of Marriage Act, Sec. 112(2)
Parenthood
Is paid leave of at least 14 weeks available to mothers?
No
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Sec. 33
Does the government pay 100% of maternity leave benefits?
Yes
National Social Security Fund Act, Secs. 21 and 45
Is paid leave available to fathers?
Yes
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Sec. 34
Is there paid parental leave?
No
No applicable provisions could be located
Is dismissal of pregnant workers prohibited?
Yes
Employment and Labour Relations Act, Sec. 37
Entreprene
urship
Does the law prohibit discrimination in access to credit based on
gender?
No
No applicable provisions could be located
Can a woman sign a contract in the same way as a man?
Yes
Law of Marriage Act, Sec. 56
Can a woman register a business in the same way as a man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Can a woman open a bank account in the same way as man?
Yes
No restrictions could be located
Assets
Do men and women have equal ownership rights to immovable
property?
Yes
Law of Marriage Act, Sec. 56
Do sons and daughters have equal rights to inherit assets from
their parents?
No
Local Customary Law (Declaration No. 4) Order, Schedule 2
Do female and male surviving spouses have equal rights to inherit
assets?
No
Local Customary Law (Declaration No. 4) Order, Schedule 2
Does the law grant spouses equal administrative authority over
assets during marriage?
Yes
Law of Marriage Act, Secs. 58 and 60
Does the law provide for the valuation of nonmonetary
contributions?
Yes
Law of Marriage Act, Sec. 114(2)(b); Civil Appeal No. 9 of 1983 Bi. Hawa
Mohamed v. Allly Sefu
Pension
Is the age at which men and women can retire with full pension
benefits the same?
Yes
National Social Security Fund Act, Secs. 2 and 23
Is the age at which men and women can retire with partial pension
benefits the same?
Yes
National Social Security Fund Act, Sec. 27
Is the mandatory retirement age for men and women the same?
Yes
No applicable provisions could be located
Are periods of absence due to childcare accounted for in pension
benefits?
No
No applicable provisions could be located
