The document set.
60 documents across Mainland Tanzania’s five termination processes, and 42 across Zanzibar’s four. Every one exists in English and Kiswahili, and every one is tied to the section that requires it. This is what a completed file looks like when the software has walked a manager through every step.
Why both languages, always
The Code of Good Practice requires an employee to be notified of allegations in a form and language the employee can reasonably understand. A hearing run in English for a Kiswahili-speaking employee is a procedural defect before it starts.
So there is no English-only path through this system. Each document is drafted in both, clause for clause, and the record shows which language was used.
Under the 2025 amendments, a termination with a good reason but a defective procedure carries compensation of not less than six months’ remuneration — and that is the cheapest of the four cases. Where the reason is unfair too it runs to twenty months, and where the termination is unfair for discrimination or harassment, to twenty-four.
The paperwork is not administration. It is the defence.
Misconduct 22
Utovu wa nidhamu — Warnings through to a disciplinary hearing, decision and appeal.
21 drafted for this process, plus 1 it shares with others: Disciplinary policy confirmation. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
COUNSELLING RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA USHAURI
GN 42 r.11(4)
VERBAL WARNING RECORD
ONYO LA MDOMO
r.11(5)
WRITTEN WARNING
ONYO LA MAANDISHI
GN 42 r.11(5); Schedule (12)
FINAL WRITTEN WARNING
ONYO LA MWISHO LA MAANDISHI
Jedwali/Schedule, para 10
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL WRITTEN WARNING
ONYO LA MWISHO LA JUMLA
Schedule (10)
INVESTIGATION REPORT
RIPOTI YA UCHUNGUZI
r.13(1) — must be completed BEFORE a hearing is convened
NOTICE OF ALLEGATION AND HEARING
TAARIFA YA TUHUMA NA KIKAO
r.13(3),(5),(9)
CHAIRPERSON APPOINTMENT & NON-INVOLVEMENT DECLARATION
UTEUZI WA MWENYEKITI
chair must be sufficiently senior AND not involved in the circumstances
ATTENDANCE AND REPRESENTATION RECORD
MAHUDHURIO NA UWAKILISHI
GN 42 r.13(3),(9)
EVIDENCE LOG
KUMBUKUMBU YA USHAHIDI
GN 42 r.13(5)
HEARING MINUTES
MUHTASARI WA KIKAO
GN 42 r.13(5); Schedule (7)
MITIGATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA KUPUNGUZA ADHABU
Schedule (8)
DECISION WITH REASONS
UAMUZI NA SABABU
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT
RIPOTI YA MWENYEKITI KWA MENEJIMENTI
Schedule (12)
APPEAL OUTCOME
MATOKEO YA RUFAA
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
TAARIFA YA KUSIMAMISHWA KAZI
GN 42 r.27(1) — suspension is on full remuneration, pending investigation
NOTICE OF TERMINATION
TAARIFA YA KUSITISHWA KWA AJIRA
in writing, with reasons and the date given; not during or concurrent with leave
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
HATI YA UTUMISHI
Required on termination whatever the reason
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO REFER TO THE CMA
TAARIFA YA HAKI YA KUPELEKA MGOGORO CMA
r.13(10)
HARD STOP: MATTER REFERRED
KIZUIZI: SULUHU
ELRA s.38(6) R.E. 2023, inserted by Act No. 4 of 2025
Utendaji hafifu — Standards, improvement plan, review, and an incapacity meeting.
10 drafted for this process, plus 6 it shares with others: Mitigation record, Appeal form, Appeal outcome, Notice of termination, Certificate of service, Notice of the right to refer a dispute to the CMA. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD RECORD
KIWANGO CHA UTENDAJI
the standard must be reasonable and known to the employee
PERFORMANCE INVESTIGATION REPORT
RIPOTI YA UCHUNGUZI WA UTENDAJI
must reveal the extent to which the poor performance is caused by the employee
GUIDANCE, INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MWONGOZO, MAELEKEZO NA MAFUNZO
must be given before any termination for poor performance
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN
MPANGO WA KUBORESHA UTENDAJI
PERFORMANCE WARNING
ONYO LA UTENDAJI
where performance continues unsatisfactory, warn that employment may be terminated if there is no improvement
NOTICE OF PRE-DECISION MEETING
TAARIFA YA KIKAO KABLA YA UAMUZI
r.18(6)
MEETING MINUTES AND REPRESENTATIONS
MUHTASARI NA MAELEZO
r.18(7)
REASONED RESPONSE TO REPRESENTATIONS
JIBU LENYE SABABU KWA MAELEZO
the Employer shall consider the representations and, if not accepted, explain why
OUTCOME LETTER
BARUA YA MATOKEO
r.18(9) — in writing, with brief reasons
DISPENSATION FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE
KUACHA NAFASI YA KUBORESHA
Ill health or injury 16
Ugonjwa au jeraha — Medical assessment, accommodation, and a pre-decision meeting.
13 drafted for this process, plus 3 it shares with others: Notice of termination, Certificate of service, Notice of the right to refer a dispute to the CMA. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT REQUEST
OMBI LA UCHUNGUZI WA DAKTARI
the employer shall be guided by the opinion of a registered medical practitioner
PRACTITIONER'S OPINION (record sheet)
MAONI YA DAKTARI
GN 42 r.19(3)
WORK-RELATEDNESS DETERMINATION
UAMUZI: JE, NI YA KAZINI?
the investigation is the employer's duty
INCAPACITY INVESTIGATION REPORT
RIPOTI YA UCHUNGUZI WA KUTOWEZA
the investigation is the employer's duty
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS ASSESSMENT
TATHMINI YA NJIA MBADALA
r.19(9)-(13) — the test is whether the employer can reasonably be expected to accommodate the employee’s disability
VACANCY-WITH-TRAINING CHECK
UKAGUZI WA NAFASI YENYE MAFUNZO
r.19(14) — where there is a vacancy the employee could fill with training, such vacancy shall be offered to the employee
CONSULTATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MASHAURIANO
r.21(2),(3) — the employee shall be consulted in the investigation and advised of all the alternatives considered
NOTICE OF PRE-DECISION MEETING
TAARIFA YA KIKAO KABLA YA UAMUZI
r.21(5)
MEETING MINUTES AND REPRESENTATIONS
MUHTASARI NA MAELEZO
r.21(6)
REASONED RESPONSE TO REPRESENTATIONS
JIBU LENYE SABABU
r.21(7)
OUTCOME LETTER
BARUA YA MATOKEO
r.21(8) — the outcome of the meeting shall be communicated to the employee in writing, with brief reasons
COUNSELLING AND REHABILITATION RECORD
USHAURI NA UREKEBISHAJI
where the cause is alcoholism or drug abuse, counselling and rehabilitation may be the appropriate steps
AIDS: HARD STOP
VVU/UKIMWI: KIZUIZI / HIV
r.20
Retrenchment 15
Kupunguza wafanyakazi — Notice of intention, consultation, selection criteria and severance.
13 drafted for this process, plus 2 it shares with others: Certificate of service, Notice of the right to refer a dispute to the CMA. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
RETRENCHMENT CONTEMPLATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA KUANZA KUFIKIRIA
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO RETRENCH
TAARIFA YA NIA YA KUPUNGUZA WAFANYAKAZI
s.39(1)(a)
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE PACK
KIFURUSHI CHA TAARIFA
CONSULTATION INVITATION
MWALIKO WA MASHAURIANO
the process must allow the union to meet and report to employees, and to meet with the employer
CONSULTATION MINUTES (one per session)
MUHTASARI WA MASHAURIANO
r.23(4)
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND REJECTED
NJIA MBADALA ZILIZOFIKIRIWA
SELECTION CRITERIA STATEMENT
VIGEZO VYA UTEUZI
r.24
SELECTION MATRIX
JEDWALI LA UTEUZI
where no agreement is reached, the matter shall be referred to mediation
MEDIATION REFERRAL RECORD
KUPELEKA USULUHISHI
where no agreement is reached, the matter shall be referred to mediation
INDIVIDUAL NOTICE OF TERMINATION (RETRENCHMENT)
TAARIFA BINAFSI YA KUSITISHWA
r.26
SEVERANCE CALCULATION
HESABU YA KIINUA MGONGO
r.26
TIME OFF TO SEEK WORK RECORD
MUDA WA KUTAFUTA KAZI
steps to avoid the adverse effects of termination
PREFERENTIAL RE-HIRE REGISTER
DAFTARI LA KUAJIRIWA TENA KWA UPENDELEO
r.25
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND CMA NOTICE
HATI YA UTUMISHI NA HAKI YA CMA
ELRA s.44; GN 42 r.13(10)
Incompatibility 12
Kutokuendana — Recorded incidents, counselling, and an opportunity to remove the cause.
2 drafted for this process, plus 10 it shares with others: Notice of pre-decision meeting, Meeting minutes and representations, Reasoned response to representations, Mitigation record, Outcome letter, Appeal form, Appeal outcome, Notice of termination, Certificate of service, Notice of the right to refer a dispute to the CMA. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
INCOMPATIBILITY INCIDENT LOG
KUMBUKUMBU YA MATUKIO
r.22(3)(a) — record the incidents of incompatibility that gave rise to concrete problems or disruption
INCOMPATIBILITY WARNING AND COUNSELLING
ONYO NA USHAURI WA KUTOKUENDANA
r.22(3)(b) — warn and counsel before termination: the unacceptable conduct, who has been adversely affected, and what remedial action is proposed
NOTICE OF PRE-DECISION MEETING
TAARIFA YA KIKAO KABLA YA UAMUZI
GN 42 r.13(3) — at least 48 hours, stating the right to be represented
PRE-DECISION MEETING RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA KIKAO KABLA YA UAMUZI
r.13(5),(9) — attendance, representation, and the employee's response
MITIGATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA SABABU ZA KUPUNGUZA ADHABU
considered before any decision is taken
DECISION WITH REASONS
UAMUZI NA SABABU
r.13(10) — issued within five days, with reasons
APPEAL FORM AND OUTCOME
FOMU YA RUFAA NA MATOKEO
five working days, heard by a different and more senior chairperson
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND CMA NOTICE
HATI YA UTUMISHI NA HAKI YA CMA
ELRA s.44; GN 42 r.13(10)
The deadlines the file has to meet
Every one of these deadlines is tracked per case. A step that cannot lawfully be taken yet is blocked — the software will not let the file move forward and violate the law.
Mainland Tanzania
- 48 hours — between notice of the allegations and the hearing.
- 5 working days — hearing to decision.
- 5 working days — decision to the employee’s appeal.
- 5 working days — appeal to referral to senior management.
- 30 days — after a retrenchment goes to mediation, before it can be implemented.
Zanzibar
- Not less than 3 days — between the written notice of the offence and the employee’s defence (s.110(3)).
- 14 days — from the penalty to the employee’s complaint to a labour officer (s.110(6)).
- 3 months at most — suspension on half pay pending an inquiry (s.55(2)).
- 2 weeks at most — suspension without pay, where suspension is the penalty itself (s.109(1)). A different thing from the one above, with a different rule on pay.
- 7 days — from that suspension to consulting the union branch (s.109(3)).
- 6, 9 and 12 months — after which a verbal, written or final written warning is disregarded and may not be relied on (s.107(6)).
- 9 months — the window in which three different offences have cumulative effect (s.107(7)).
- 1 month — from the signed redundancy agreement to the report to the Labour Commissioner (s.121(3)(b)).
- 1 month — from receiving the Commissioner’s decision to appealing it to the court (s.121(5)).
Zanzibar
Zanzibar has its own Act — the Employment Act, No. 11 of 2005 — and its own procedure. Discipline runs through a written notice of the offence and the intended penalty, not less than three days to defend, and a fourteen-day complaint to a labour officer; disputes go to the Labour Commission’s dispute handling unit, not the CMA. Section 112(1) names three valid reasons, so there are four processes and no incompatibility process. These are not the mainland documents with the citations changed.
Misconduct Zanzibar · 19
Utovu wa nidhamu — Written notice of the offence and intended penalty, not less than three days to defend, the decision, and the fourteen-day complaint to a labour officer.
DISCIPLINARY RULES CONFIRMATION
UTHIBITISHO WA KANUNI ZA NIDHAMU
Employment Act s.108(1),(2),(4)
SUSPENSION PENDING INQUIRY
KUSIMAMISHWA KAZI WAKATI WA UCHUNGUZI
s.55 — on half pay, not exceeding three months
WRITTEN NOTICE OF OFFENCE AND INTENDED PENALTY
TAARIFA YA MAANDISHI YA KOSA NA ADHABU INAYOKUSUDIWA
s.110(2)
EMPLOYEE'S DEFENCE RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA UTETEZI WA MWAJIRIWA
s.110(3) — not less than three days
TRADE UNION NOTIFICATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA TAARIFA KWA CHAMA
s.110(5)
DECISION AND NOTICE OF DISMISSAL
UAMUZI NA TAARIFA YA KUFUKUZWA KAZI
s.107(3), s.110(4), s.112(2)
COMPLAINT WINDOW RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MUDA WA MALALAMIKO
s.110(6)-(8) — fourteen days to a labour officer
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
HATI YA UTUMISHI
s.79 — signed and sealed
NOTICE, FINAL PAYMENT AND REPATRIATION SCHEDULE
TAARIFA, MALIPO YA MWISHO NA KURUDISHWA NYUMBANI
s.54(3), s.80
VERBAL WARNING RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA ONYO LA MDOMO
s.110(1); s.107(6)(a) — disregarded after six months
WRITTEN WARNING
ONYO LA MAANDISHI
s.107(6)(b) — disregarded after nine months
FINAL WRITTEN WARNING
ONYO LA MWISHO LA MAANDISHI
s.107(6)(c) — disregarded after twelve months
DISCIPLINARY RECORD AND SPENT-WARNING CHECK
KUMBUKUMBU YA NIDHAMU NA UKAGUZI WA MAONYO YALIYOKWISHA MUDA
s.107(6),(8) — a spent infringement shall be disregarded
CUMULATIVE EFFECT DETERMINATION
UAMUZI WA ATHARI YA MKUSANYIKO
s.107(7) — three different offences above a verbal warning within nine months
REASONABLENESS DETERMINATION
UAMUZI WA UWIANO WA ADHABU
s.107(3)(a),(b) — a penalty only where reasonable, judged against the Schedule
SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY AS A PENALTY
KUSIMAMISHWA KAZI BILA MALIPO KAMA ADHABU
s.109(1),(2),(3) — without pay, not exceeding two weeks; NOT the s.55 half-pay suspension pending inquiry
INQUIRY RECORD AND OUTCOME
KUMBUKUMBU YA UCHUNGUZI NA MATOKEO
s.55(3),(4) — where no offence is proved the deferred pay falls due
HARD STOP: THE REASON IS A PROTECTED GROUND
KIZUIZI: SABABU NI MSINGI UNAOLINDWA
s.107(4); s.118(3) — ten grounds that are never fair
SUMMARY DISMISSAL AND FORFEITURE RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA KUFUKUZWA MARA MOJA NA KUPOTEZA STAHILI
s.111(3) — terminal benefits forfeited EXCEPT the employee's own pension contributions
Capacity (poor work performance) Zanzibar · 13
Uwezo (utendaji hafifu) — Standards, the recorded failure, written notice, the employee's explanation, a period to improve, and the decision.
7 drafted for this process, plus 6 it shares with others: HARD STOP: the reason is a protected ground, Disciplinary record and spent-warning check, Reasonableness determination, Complaint window record, Certificate of service, Notice, final payment and repatriation schedule. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA VIWANGO VYA UTENDAJI
s.108(1),(5)
FAILURE TO CARRY OUT DUTIES RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA KUSHINDWA KUTEKELEZA MAJUKUMU
s.107(1),(3)(a)
WRITTEN NOTICE OF FAILURE AND INTENDED ACTION
TAARIFA YA MAANDISHI YA KUSHINDWA NA HATUA INAYOKUSUDIWA
s.110(2)
EMPLOYEE'S EXPLANATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MAELEZO YA MWAJIRIWA
s.110(3)
IMPROVEMENT PERIOD RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA KIPINDI CHA KUBORESHA
s.107(3) — reasonable in the circumstances
TRADE UNION NOTIFICATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA TAARIFA KWA CHAMA
s.110(5)
DECISION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION FOR CAPACITY
UAMUZI NA TAARIFA YA KUSITISHWA KWA SABABU YA UWEZO
s.112(1)(a),(2)
Ill health or injury Zanzibar · 9
Ugonjwa au jeraha — Certified absence, referral to a medical board, its certificate, the alternatives considered, and the decision.
6 drafted for this process, plus 3 it shares with others: HARD STOP: the reason is a protected ground, Certificate of service, Notice, final payment and repatriation schedule. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
SICK LEAVE AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATE RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA LIKIZO YA UGONJWA NA HATI YA MATIBABU
s.69; s.118(3)(f),(4)
MEDICAL BOARD REFERRAL
RUFAA KWA BODI YA MATIBABU
s.52(1)(d)
MEDICAL BOARD CERTIFICATE RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA HATI YA BODI YA MATIBABU
s.52(1)(d)
ALTERNATIVE DUTIES CONSIDERED
MAJUKUMU MBADALA YALIYOFIKIRIWA
s.118(2)(b); s.88
CONSULTATION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MASHAURIANO
s.118(2)(b)
DECISION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION FOR ILL HEALTH
UAMUZI NA TAARIFA YA KUSITISHWA KWA SABABU YA UGONJWA
s.112(1)(a),(2); s.52(1)(d)
Redundancy (operational requirements) Zanzibar · 12
Upunguzaji wa wafanyakazi — Grounds, discussion with the union on five fixed matters, a signed agreement, the report to the Labour Commissioner, selection, notice and severance.
10 drafted for this process, plus 2 it shares with others: Certificate of service, Notice, final payment and repatriation schedule. Shared documents are listed once, under the process they were written for — a certificate of service is not a different document because a second process also ends in one.
REDUNDANCY GROUNDS RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA SABABU ZA UPUNGUZAJI
s.121(2)(a)-(c)
TRADE UNION DISCUSSION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MAJADILIANO NA CHAMA
s.121(3)(a)(i)-(v)
SIGNED REDUNDANCY AGREEMENT
MAKUBALIANO YA UPUNGUZAJI YALIYOSAINIWA
s.121(3)(b)
REPORT TO THE LABOUR COMMISSIONER
RIPOTI KWA KAMISHNA WA KAZI
s.121(3)(b) — within one month of the agreement
COMMISSIONER'S RESPONSE RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA MAJIBU YA KAMISHNA
s.121(4)
SELECTION RECORD
KUMBUKUMBU YA UTEUZI
s.121(3)(a)(iii); s.118(3)
NOTICE OF REDUNDANCY TO THE EMPLOYEE
TAARIFA YA UPUNGUZAJI KWA MWAJIRIWA
s.54(2),(3); s.112(2)
SEVERANCE COMPUTATION
HESABU YA KIINUA MGONGO
s.121(3)(a)(v)
APPEAL TO THE COURT AGAINST THE COMMISSIONER'S DECISION
RUFAA MAHAKAMANI DHIDI YA UAMUZI WA KAMISHNA
s.121(5) — one month from receiving the decision
REDUNDANCY ENTITLEMENT SCHEDULE
ORODHA YA STAHILI ZA UPUNGUZAJI
s.121(6) — three months' notice or pay in lieu, severance, gratuity, and all arrears
How a document becomes available
Opening a case does not hand over the documents above. It opens the first step, and the rest arrive one at a time.
A step opens only when three things are true: its prerequisites are complete or lawfully skipped with the ground recorded, any waiting period has elapsed, and the case is not frozen or closed. Skipping is not free — you have to pick a ground the rule itself provides, and that choice is written into the file.
So you cannot produce the outcome letter on day one. You have to have set the standard, investigated, given guidance, offered the chance to improve, warned, held the meeting, and answered what the employee said. That sequencing is the product.
What the process will not let a manager do
- Continue a disciplinary matter once it has been referred to the Commission or the Court — a bar introduced in 2025 that most employers have not caught up with.
- Terminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
- Put pregnancy or union membership into a retrenchment selection matrix.
- Reach a decision on ill health without a registered medical practitioner’s opinion, or without checking whether a vacancy exists that the employee could fill with training.
- Give notice of termination during an employee’s leave, or run it concurrently.
- Skip the chance to improve on a performance case, outside the two narrow grounds where the Code allows it.
Seeing the documents themselves
The completed set is issued as part of an engagement, tailored to your sites, your jurisdiction and your disciplinary policy. If you would like to see a sample document before that, ask and we will send one.
Talk to us