About us

The ILO Area Office in Zambia was established in 1968 following an agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the International Labour Office. Originally, the Lusaka Office was responsible for eight countries in the Southern Africa region, namely:- Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The office also organised and supported ILO assistance to liberation movements of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Following the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa and the opening of an ILO office in Pretoria in 1995, the Area Office in Lusaka is now responsible for countries: Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

A comprehensive set of advisory services, technical cooperation programmes, training and research activities have been initiated in Zambia as a contribution to the operationalisation of the ILO decent work agenda across the four ILO strategic objectives which are:

• Promotion and realisation of standards and fundamental principles and rights at work;
• Creation of greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income;
• Enhancement of the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all;
• Strengthening of tripartism and social dialogue.

All these technical programmes and activities are aimed at the realisation and operationalisation of the right of every Zambian to decent work. Decent work means productive work in which rights at work are protected, an adequate income is generated, and where there is appropriate social protection, including sound working conditions and a healthy environment, in particular protection against work-related accidents and diseases. Decent work presents a formidable challenge to Zambia.

The ILO Area Office in Zambia is located in Lubwa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka. The office has a library that offers information resources that are produced by ILO and its partners.