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ILO calls for more jobs, less poverty

ILO calls for more jobs, less poverty
By Patson Chilemba
Mon 02 May 2011, 04:02 CAT

THE country’s six per cent growth rate per annum has unfortunately not translated into more jobs and less poverty, says Martin Clemensson.

And Clemensson, who is International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique said having 90 per cent of Zambia’s labour force unemployed or in the informal economy was taking a risk, given the recent events in North Africa and the Middle East.

Speaking during Labour Day celebrations yesterday at Lusaka’s Freedom Statue, Clemensson said this year’s theme of creating secure employment with freedom, equity and human dignity was a noble theme and aspiration.

He said it was also the definition of decent work.

Clemensson said work could also be described as more and better jobs, or quantity and quality of work.

"So how is Zambia doing, with regard to decent work? It is a mixed picture: in terms of quantity, 10-12 per cent of the labour force is in the formal sector, i.e. they have real employment with contracts. These lucky few have regular incomes, reasonable working conditions, some social protection and are represented by the trade unions,” Clemensson said.

“But about 90 per cent of the labour force in Zambia is in the informal economy, where the quality of work is poor: they have no social protection, no regular income, no voice and are not benefiting from the country’s economic growth.”

Clemensson said given the events in North Africa and the Middle East, it was absolutely essential to connect people’s aspirations, especially young people’s aspirations, to productive solutions.

"Having 90 per cent of the labour force unemployed or in the informal economy is taking a risk. We cannot expect that productivity will come from vulnerability. Zambia cannot ground its future development on the people’s vulnerability,” Clemensson said.

“Today, the main question is not whether we can afford a social protection floor for all, but whether Zambia can afford not to invest in social protection.”

He said this year’s Labour Day theme was indeed at the heart of what was needed in Zambia: more employment and more sustainable enterprises, rights at work, social protection and occupational safety and health and social dialogue.

Clemensson said these important basics would be the founding principles for Zambia’s next Decent Work Country Programme that the three partners would develop this year with ILO.

He said a Decent Work Programme was a plan for how the trade unions, employers and Ministry of Labour and Social Security would make a significant contribution to the Sixth National Development Plan during 2012-15.

Clemensson said Zambia had a spectacular growth of about six to seven per cent per year.

“Unfortunately, that has not translated into more jobs and less poverty, an important reason for that is that much of the growth takes place in one sector only - the mining sector - thanks to booming copper prices,” Clemensson said.

“We must also invest in other sectors like tourism, construction, agriculture productivity and small enterprise development, and we must invest in education and skills.”

Clemensson said as the economy grows by six per cent, the employment should grow with six per cent and the poverty should reduce by six per cent.

“In other words, economic growth and Decent Work should go hand in hand. We must not have no without the other. There is no solution to poverty without sustainable, productive and reasonable paid jobs,” he said.

Clemensson said today, the working people needed the strong voice of the trade union movement more than ever to speak up and represent them, and to stand united.

He said the working people also needed to know exactly where political contenders’ stand with regard to what matters most: jobs, incomes, rights, protection, influence and dignity.

And President Banda said Zambia was today achieving growth because of the workers.

He said the country would this year break the 100 million tonnes barrier in mineral output.

President Banda said the country last year witnessed US$2 billion worth of investment and 18,000 new businesses were registered in the country.

President Banda said he was determined to create more jobs for Zambians.

He said the women were unsung heroes in the development the nation was witnessing.

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba said members of parliament should delay the collection of gratuity once their term of office was over so that workers who had not been paid for long could get their money first.

Labels: ILO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, POVERTY, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 11:53 AM