Tripartism and social dialogue key to progress in the tourism industry

The one day symposium looked at the role of tourism in job creation, the quality of those jobs and social dialogue can enhance progress in this sector.

News | 26 September 2019
Contact(s): ILO Harare Office Tel +2634369806-12 Email: harare@lo.org
(ILO News, HARARE) Ahead of the World Tourism Day commemorations on September 27, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office (CO) for Zimbabwe and Namibia partnered the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and held a one day symposium on the future of the tourism sector in Zimbabwe.


 

The symposium held under the theme “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All” also brought together both public and private sector stakeholders and members of the academia.

The main objectives of the meeting were to highlight the role played by tourism in job creation; interrogate the working environment and quality of jobs in Zimbabwe’s tourism sector; assessing the level of employment of people with disabilities and analysing the appropriateness of tourism degrees offered by Zimbabwe universities.

On behalf of the ILO, the Programme Officer Simbarashe Sibanda, made a presentation on the future of work in the tourism sector titled ‘Centenary Declaration: Considerations for a Human-Centred Future’ which noted that the growth and success of the sector is premised on greater trust in tripartism.

Commenting on conversations about the future that are dominated by fear and anxiety over how robots will replace humans in employment due to technological disruptions; Mr. Sibanda pointed that: “The last 100 years prove otherwise. Historically, human beings have not been good at predicting what the future holds for us. There is need to know that in any sector, it is within our means to shape what the future should look like.

“The tourism sector is job rich. However, these jobs are often precarious. The ILO calls for greater trust in tripartism and social dialogue to ensure a human-centred future.

“There is need to promote sustainable tourism enterprises that integrate gender and youth concerns, facilitate the transition to formality, ensure that all workers, regardless of their contractual arrangements, are protected,” said Mr. Sibanda.

Acting Tourism Minister Hon. Mangaliso Ndhlovu urged members of the academia to come up with solutions that help in job creation.

While tourism in 2018 contributed eight percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Hon. Ndhlovu acknowledged that more needs to be done.

“The tourism sector cannot survive alone. The role played by institutions of higher learning is critical in coming up with innovative ways for job creation,” remarked the Minister.

At the same gathering, UZ Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Mapfumo said that to address gaps in the sector, the university seeks to collaborate with stakeholders to provide relevant skills and contribute to innovation through research.