Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Zambia (Ratification: 1979)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active employment policy and poverty reduction strategy. The Government indicates in its report that the 2005 National Employment and Labour Market Policy (NELMP), with its focus on creating adequate and quality jobs under conditions ensuring adequate income and protection of workers’ basic rights, was undergoing a review together with the National Youth Policy. The adjusted aim of the 2005 NELMP would focus on full, productive, freely chosen and decent work, and would be reflected in the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (2013–16) (RSNDP), the Industrialization and Job Creation Strategy (2012–17) (IJCS), as well as the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2015–17) (MTEF). The Committee notes that a direct result of the policy review was the establishment of the Youth Development Fund to serve as a catalyst for employment and wealth creation for youth wanting to become entrepreneurs and create employment for themselves and others. Moreover, the Government is implementing a four-year programme with the ILO and the Swedish Government to support the creation of decent jobs for young people and improve food security for low-income communities in rural areas. The Government states that the re-establishment of the Public Employment Exchange services in all provincial centres will particularly help young people in identifying job opportunities. With regard to the link between labour market information and employment policy formulation, the Government refers to the skills demand audit enabling a tailoring of the curriculum. In addition, the collection of data, reported monthly from all ministries and provinces, as well as the information provided by private employment agencies, enabled the measurement of the job creation rate in order to verify whether the Government’s target of creating 1,000,000 jobs was on course. Since October 2011, over 400,000 jobs have been created. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the different plans implemented in order to achieve full, productive and freely chosen employment. Please also provide information on the impact of the activities related to employment promotion carried out under the Decent Work Country Programme.

Labour market information. The Government provides updated labour market data based on the 2012 Labour Force Survey which estimated the economically active population at 5,845,250; equivalent to a labour force participation rate of 74.6 per cent. The total unemployment rate was 7.9 per cent, with 15.3 per cent in urban and 3.1 per cent in rural areas. Urban unemployment continued to be higher for women, with 18.7 per cent, compared to 12.7 per cent for men. Unemployment among the 20–24 age group was measured at 16.3 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated statistical data, disaggregated by age and sex, and other relevant data concerning the size and distribution of the labour force, the extent of unemployment and underemployment, as well as the level of employment in the informal economy. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the development of HIV and AIDS workplace policies and their effects on employment generation.

Sectoral development strategies. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to promote productive employment and improve the quantity and quality of employment opportunities in the rural, manufacturing, mining and other growth sectors. Please also provide information on the involvement of representatives of those working in the specific sectors in the development and implementation of employment policies.

Education and vocational training. Youth employment. The Government states that the secondary and tertiary curriculums have been revised to meet the labour market demand for skills in various economic sectors. The Ministry through the Department of Vocational Education and Training has continued to implement a two-tier vocational training system from grade 10 in four pilot institutions. In addition, a draft curriculum for Teacher Education and Training has been designed to equip secondary school teachers with technical and vocational skills in the manufacturing and construction sectors. The Government also provides information on the challenges for its training programmes, such as inadequate funding, lack of text-teaching materials and resource centres, lack of machinery, equipment and hand tools and dilapidated infrastructure. In general terms, 6.8 per cent of the population aged 15 years and older received skills training, of which 38.2 per cent were in rural areas; and men received skills training at a rate of 71.8 per cent compared to 28.2 per cent for women. For men, the highest number of skills training received was courses relating to bricklaying and construction (64,488 persons); while for women, it was tailoring and designing (39,618 persons). The Committee requests the Government to supply disaggregated data on young people obtaining lasting employment following their participation in training programmes. It further requests the Government to provide updated information on the measures taken, in consultation with the social partners, to enhance the education and training system to ensure that education and training courses satisfy and are aligned with the demand on the labour market for skills in the various economic sectors.

Promotion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government indicates that during the 2008–11 period, a total of 1,445 projects were approved for an approximate total value of US$26,690. Under the new implementation strategy (2013–16), the Government indicates that it is systematically supporting the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprise value chains in designated industrial clusters in each province of Zambia, together with networks of business development service providers. Some 30 per cent of the empowerment services are foreseen for women. In addition, targeted citizens, including women, receive special support in order to succeed in project implementation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to support the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises and on their results in terms of generating employment. Please also include information on the impact of measures taken to promote women’s entrepreneurship.