Making decent work a reality in SMEs: workers and social dialogue in food and beverage enterprises in Zanzibar

This paper analyzes possible factors which prevent the realization of social dialogue in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) food and beverage sector in Zanzibar. The results indicate that despite of having the meaningful guiding principles such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions and labour legislations and policies, yet it its implementation is not attainable in this sector. The key actors: employers, government, and trade unions understand their roles and responsibilities but do not take into practice. While the social dialogue is mainly focussed and limited to these three pillars, a vast majority of employees and other stakeholders are not involved in the process since the sector is seen as not important, and operating in traditional way. Therefore, this study argues that weak-nesses and lack of technical capacity among the social partners; inadequate education of labour laws and social dialogue among social partners; misconceptions and mistrusts of both employees and employers against trade unions and government; the power of gov-ernment to predominate and influence trade unions affairs; disregard of implementation of social dialogue and labour legislations; cultural aspect of the Zanzibar community; lack of harmonious relations among the social partners; and insufficient wages which do not meet workers’ requirements are key factors which prevent social dialogue being realised in small and Medium Enetrprises (SMEs). To overcome these obstacles, various measures are sug-gested include capacity building among social partners.