Employment and Labour Markets

1. Labour market information and analysis

2. Employment and labour markets policies

3. Miscellaneous activities

1.         Labour market information and analysis

The broad objective of work items relating to labour market information and analysis is to assist ILO constituents in Southern Africa in strengthening their capacity to formulate, implement and evaluate more effective labour and employment policies by improving the state of information on labour markets and undertaking labour market analysis.

1.1    Labour market information

• SamatData: A Labour market information database for the SADC countries. The ILO/SAMAT labour market information database – SamatData – was initiated in response to the need for easier access to more reliable, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the labour markets in southern Africa. The data are extracted from various sources and stored in such a way that the information can be easily retrieved, compared and analysed across countries and over time. Go to SamatData

1.2    Labour market analysis

• SAMAT has provided technical assistance to the Employment Planning Division of the Ministry of Labour and the Central Bureau of Statistics of Namibia in the analysis of the 1997 Namibia Labour Force Survey (NLFS1997). An Interim Report of Analysis was issued in January 1999. The final report is to be published in 2000.

1.3    Training activities related to labour market information and analysis

• As part of training activities designed to increase national capacity for labour market analysis, two staff members of the Employment Planning Division of the Ministry of Labour and two staff members of the Central Bureau of Statistics of Namibia visited ILO/SAMAT for 2-4 weeks each to participate in the interim analysis of data from the 1997 Namibia Labour Force Survey (NLFS1997). These followed several missions by two ILO/SAMAT staff members to Windhoek to work with the staff from the Ministry of Labour and the Central Bureau of Statistics in the early stages of the analysis of NLFS1997 data.  
  

• With the assistance of the Area Office in Lusaka, ILO/SAMAT conducted a two-week training course on Labour Market Information Systems (LMIS) and database management in Zambia. Participants came from the SADC Employment and Labour Sector Co-ordinating Unit and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The course covered database management at the basic and intermediate level and familiarised the participants with the ILO/SAMAT database (SamatData). A similar course was also held in Harare in August 1999 for the benefit of participants from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe and ILO/SAMAT. Similar courses will be held in other countries in due course.  

• ILO/SAMAT contributes to training workshops of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC), Harare, by making presentations on the role of LMIS in Employment Services.  
  

• The ILO’s International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, is planning to hold its next training course on labour market information and analysis during 11-15 December 2000 in Harare. This one-week course is designed for senior officials and decision makers in Government and Employers’ and Workers' organisations of several Southern African countries. Further information will be posted shortly. 

2.            Employment and labour market policies

The broad objective of work items relating to employment and labour market policies (ELMP) is to assist ILO constituents in the sub-region in the development, formulation and promotion of employment and labour strategies, as well as in the design and implementation of national and sectoral programmes in relevant fields.

3.            Miscellaneous

Work items of a miscellaneous nature arise, firstly, from ad hoc requests for assistance from ILO constituents that are not directly related to labour market information and policies; and secondly, from collaboration with other agencies and organisations with related activities in the field of employment and labour. An example of the latter is ILO/SAMAT's involvement in the UNDAF-process :

3.1    Thematic Group on Economy and Employment

In the context of the implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in Zimbabwe, ILO/SAMAT chairs the UNDAF’s Thematic Group on the Economy and Employment in 2000. The main activities of this Group consist of assisting the country in three areas: getting the Government’s structural adjustment programme (ZIMPREST: Zimbabwe Programme on Economic and Social Transformation) back on track, developing a national employment policy, and developing a strategy for the promotion of the private sector. These activities are underpinned by extensive emphasis on social dialogue in the context of the National Economic Consultative Forum, an advisory body that groups the Government, Employers’ and Workers’ organisations, academia, the civil society, etc. World Bank, ILO and UNIDO play the lead role in the implementation of the three activities respectively. (Please click for more detailed information on UNDAF's Thematic Group on Economy and Employment).

For further information on Employment and Labour Market Policies please contact Mr. T. Gwatidzo

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