Restoring labour dignity: analysing decent work improvement strategies in Tanzania's circular construction supply chains

Abstract

Purpose This study addresses the limited understanding of strategies for enhancing decent work quality (DWQ) within circular construction supply chains (CCSCs), particularly in developing country contexts. Focusing on Tanzania, it examines the challenges of informality and poor working conditions in CCSCs and contributes by identifying and categorizing key strategies for improving DWQ. The study is framed by labour process theory, providing a lens to analyse power dynamics and institutional structures that shape labour outcomes in a developing economy. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a survey research design, collecting data from 207 unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled construction workers across multiple sites in Tanzania through self-administered questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to validate the measurement structure and ensure that the observed variables reliably represented the underlying constructs. Findings The study's results reveal that strategies for enhancing DWQ in Tanzanian CCSCs cluster around three components: Institutional and Labour Governance Strategies, Community and Policy-Driven Interventions and Workplace Environment and Safety Practices. These components encompass measures such as technology-enabled labour inspection, strengthened social dialogue, pro-labour policies, participatory planning, provision of protective equipment, compliance with working hours and improved workplace conditions. These components form a multi-scalar framework that delineates the interconnected roles of state regulation, community inclusion and shop-floor practices in restoring labour dignity. The findings underscore that in a developing context, robust governance is the foundational pillar without which community and workplace interventions are less effective. Research limitations/implications From a research perspective, the study advocates the use of multi-scalar and integrative approaches that examine the impact of interplay between governance, community interventions and workplace practices within CCSCs on DWQ. Future research should employ mixed-methods and longitudinal designs to capture causal dynamics and temporal shifts in decent work outcomes. Comparative studies across regions are essential to understanding how digital inspection tools and inclusive procurement models function within diverse institutional and labour market contexts. Additionally, exploring the climate–labour nexus could reveal how employment-intensive, circular infrastructure programs simultaneously advance environmental sustainability, urban resilience and decent work. Practical implications The results offer evidence-based insights to guide policymakers and industry stakeholders in formulating frameworks that advance DWQ and promote sustainability in Tanzania's construction sector and comparable contexts across Sub-Saharan Africa. Originality/value This study is among the first to place decent work at the centre of circular economy transitions in developing economies, providing novel insights into improving work quality within CCSCs. It moves beyond a technical view of circularity to present a politically and institutionally nuanced understanding, offering a targeted framework for labour dignity in CCSCs that accounts for the high informality and regulatory gaps characteristic of developing countries