Maravi

'Weak labour ministry can't tackle youth unemployment'

'Weak labour ministry can't tackle youth unemployment'
By Mwala Kalaluka in Geneva, Switzerland
Sun 10 June 2012, 12:59 CAT

PRESIDENT Sata says youth unemployment cannot be tackled with a weak labour ministry. In a statement delivered to a Tripartite African Group meeting held at the Palaise Des Nations in Geneva on Friday on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference, President Sata said there was need for strong ministries of labour in Africa.

"You cannot tackle youth unemployment, social protection and rights at work if the labour ministry is weak. This is what I talked about during my election campaign last year," he said.

President Sata said Africa needed the comradeship of the International Labour Organisation as she walked along the development path.

He said he was impressed with the progress recorded by the various committees during the deliberations at the conference.

"We are here because we believe in the principles and values of tripartism, social dialogue, and social justice. The three partners comprising governments, workers and employers have to work together to realise social justice," he said. "How significant is our engagement with the ILO?"

President Sata said the ILO provides expert advice as Africa deals with the many challenges it faces in the world of work.

"The second point I want to talk about is the need to strengthen the African Union," he said. "I strongly feel that as a family, Africa needs to stand together and move together as we tackle various issues - be they climate change, trade and indeed labour relations."

President Sata said there was need for a strong and clear position from the various regional groups on the continent on labour matters.

"From there, we need a harmonised voice through the African Union. We are stronger when we come to Geneva with a united African position on issues. Therefore, the roles of the African Union, Labour and Social Affairs Commission and the African Group here need to be enhanced," President Sata said.

"The third point I cannot avoid is the hot issue of the 1986 Instrument of Amendment to the ILO Constitution.

"As Africa, we have been strongly advocating for the ILO constitution to be amended so that things such as the composition of the governing body, voting procedures during the labour conference and others can be changed."

He said since the instrument of amendment to the constitution was discussed in 1986, the two-thirds ratification threshold requirement by member states, including five of the ten permanent industrialised countries, had not been attained.

"I have hope that this can be achieved. I therefore, urge African countries that have not ratified this instrument to do so. Once we have all ratified, the task might be easier. We will then target to get three more industrialised countries to ratify," President Sata said.

"I would like to talk about the role of ministries of labour on our continent. For all the things you have discussed during the conference to be achieved, we need strong ministries of labour. You cannot tackle youth unemployment, social protection and rights at work if the labour ministry is weak. This is what I talked about during my election campaign last year."

And delegates to an international labour conference in Geneva overwhelmingly applauded President Sata's appointment of women in key decision-making positions while the International Labour Organisation lauded his acute sense of humour.

And outgoing International Labour Organisation director-general Juan Somavia says President Sata's journey to the Presidency is marked with impressive milestones and in particular persistence and courage through very difficult and complex moments.

In a 30-minute address to a special session of the 101st International Labour Conference at the United Nations offices in Geneva on Friday afternoon, President Sata, who meshed his speech with light moments which were rewarded with applause and laughter, said the PF government will stay truthful to its election promises by upholding principles of good political governance.

"Mr President for your information, for many years, for the past 50 years since Zambia became independent, we have neglected our womenfolk, but you will be interested to note that this PF government has more women in prominent positions," he said.

President Sata's remark was followed by a close to a minute applause when he outlined that Inspector General of Police, Anti-Corruption Commission director-general, Drug Enforcement Commissioner, commanding officers of divisions were women, including two members of his delegation who were female permanent secretaries.

President Sata, who pledged to continue appointing women to key positions in government, commended Somavia's commitment and passion for promoting the ILO decent work agenda across member states.

"I would also like to take this opportunity on behalf of the people of Zambia and the first lady to congratulate Mr. Guy Ryder on his election. By coincidence my Vice-President is Guy, but not Ryder, but Scott," President Sata said. "Guy Ryder is a household name to our tripartite family. He is well known to us."

He said what he sees in Zambians' lives now and from his 10 years as an opposition leader was that the good economic statistics that were being boasted about did not reflect in the people's lives.

"The young people who had registered en masse to vote had no jobs, taxes were high but public entities were delivering poor services," President Sata said.

"The Zambian people overwhelmingly gave us their vote. The young people played a determining role in putting us in office."

He pledged to stay truthful to his election promises, especially through the avoidance of waste and fighting corruption as priority areas and he further thanked Dr Kaseba for surviving the campaign period's daily provocations.


"For trade to have real impact in terms of economic benefits, it must be accompanied by measures targeted at enhancing productivity, job creation, value additi

on, respect of labour standards and diversification," President Sata said. "Zambia, therefore, looks forward to an integration process that will lift millions of our people from poverty."

He said enhancing dialogue with key partners was crucial to getting the right policies in place.

"We believe that the youths, women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups have to be given a voice in important fora," said President Sata. "Our women have suffered a setback. In elections they vote en masse. They vote more than men."

And Somavia said in his welcoming speech that a President with such an acute sense of humour on almost every subject that one touched, as was the case with President Sata, was rare.

"Let me say on a personal note that we have just had lunch with the President and I have rarely seen a President with such an acute sense of humour on almost every subject that you touch," Somavia said.

"So let me say that you have left a great impression on me as a person, as a human being, that you have been able to transform pronunciations into something that is light and profound at the same time."

He said President Sata had greatly contributed to Zambia's democratisation process, even to a point of being arrested for political reasons.

"In your capacity as a former minister of labour, I also want to say 'welcome home,'" Somavia said.

"Your journey to the Presidency is marked with impressive milestones. But in particular, persistence courage, having been arrested on several occasions for political reasons. You played a key role in the democratisation process of Zambia."

He said Zambians acknowledged his achievements when they elected President Sata as their leader last September.

"You responded to their trust, shaping a people-centered development agenda, guided by a vision of inclusive development. It is driven by the conviction, that, and I quote, 'the recently pronounced economic growth…is meaningless if it does not make noticeable impact on poverty reduction among our people especially the youth,'" Somavia said. "We salute your determination to address the issue of youth employment."

He said with solid partnerships such as the one ILO enjoys with the Zambian government, the pace to pursue decent work goals would go far.

"In February this year, your national football team was proof of the Zambian proverb which says: 'When you run alone you run fast, when you run together, you run fast.' They ran together. They got very far, all the way to the African Cup. Congratulations," said Somavia amidst applause.

Labels: ILO, MICHAEL SATA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY, UNEMPLOYMENT

posted by MrK @ 2:18 PM