Maravi

Kunda shoots down motion on employment statistics

COMMENT - VP Kunda believes that statistics on trends in unemployment in Zambia would embarass the (neoliberal) government. He is probably right. It would also show that throwing open the borders to goods and foreign corporations doesn't 'bring jobs'.

Kunda shoots down motion on employment statistics
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 22 June 2011, 07:50 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda led MMD members of parliament in shooting down a private members’ motion that could have compelled the government to release consolidated annual statistics on employment levels in the country.

The motion was presented to Parliament on Wednesday last week by Nchanga Patriotic Front member of parliament Wilbur Simuusa and seconded by Chongwe MMD member of parliament Sylvia Masebo.

Earlier in his debate on the same motion, Roan member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili revealed that Vice-President Kunda and MMD parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga had indicated to him that they would reject the motion.

And leading the onslaught on the motion, Vice-President Kunda said it was meant to embarrass the government.

“Honourable Kambwili talked about a private discussion we had with the chief whip, and we were trying to look at the position we were going to take on this motion. So, we agreed that we should reject it. This gives me an opportunity to punch a death nail in this motion; this is a futile exercise. We don’t work at random, we prepare ourselves. And on this side of the House we are going to vote ‘no’ against this motion,” debated Vice-President Kunda.

“This is not the first time I’ve dealt with motions of this nature. Private members’ motions are meant to embarrass government, pour scorn on government and disturb the good nature of government. So when we see such motions we prepare ourselves.

I saw a statement from the minister of labour, which was indicating that government is already doing something on this matter.

And I came to a conclusion that this motion is frivolous and vexatious; therefore we should reject this particular motion. So I urge Honourable members who are properly directing themselves to reject this motion.”

When deputy Speaker Mutale Nalumango put the motion to a vote, it was rejected, as majority MMD members of parliament celebrated and shouted, “ya, ya!”

Earlier, in a keynote speech, Simuusa said the motion was critical in tracking the nation’s fight against poverty and the promotion of sustainable economic growth.

He said in view of the inadequate information on the labour market, it would be good for the government to annually publish consolidated labour statistics which reflect current employment and unemployment trends.

Simuusa said the statistics would also show targets and pledges set by all investors against actual jobs created, both in the public and private sector.

“The importance of labour statistics as an economic and social indicator cannot be overemphasised. These statistics are key in the effective planning, analysis, evaluation, and monitoring of the economy.

They are necessary in assessing the performance of a wide range of government policies and strategies (relating in particular to employment, income and effect of investments on overall employment),” Simuusa said.

“Labour statistics indeed are very much about people’s participation in the labour force, their success in finding employment, their earnings and other benefits, their type of work and their working hours. Labour statistics ultimately provide an indication of the intensity of poverty in the country.”

He said labour statistics were not only important economic indicators; they also measure the performance of labour market.

Simuusa said political leaders also needed labour statistics to show to their constituents the progress government policy had contributed towards achieving social justice in particular and economic development in general.

“Labour statistics are useful to a wide array of stakeholders: government and its agencies and advisors, business people, trade unions, employer associations, academia, civil society organisations, politicians, parliament, etc.

In this regard, labour statistics are not only used to measure and describe the size, structure and characteristics of various entrants into the labour market but also enables the government to design appropriate employment and socio-economic policies,” said Simuusa.

And supporting the motion, Kambwili said it was only in Zambia where election campaigns were not based on labour statistics.

He said in developed countries like the UK and US, labour statistics were a serious issue among various political candidates.

“Any reasonable government should be able to accept their mistakes. Labour statistics are a serious campaign issue all over the world.

If you create employment that has no value to the people then it is as good as not creating it,” said Kambwili.

Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, SYLVIA MASEBO, UNEMPLOYMENT, WILBUR SIMUSA

posted by MrK @ 2:42 PM