A Systemic Approach to Decent Work and Labour Rights in Southern Africas Construction Sector
Building a pathway to improved working conditions for youth and the working poor
Project details
Reference
RAF/21/14/SWE
Southern Africa is experiencing growth, creating a demand for infrastructure and offering potential new job opportunities in the construction sector.
However for many workers, especially those within the informal economy, these opportunities come with precarious labour conditions. Workers in the sector, including young and female employees, often face temporary, high-risk, and underpaid roles, lacking the protection of labour legislation and programmes.
Recognizing the need for change, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), have initiated a four-year project (2022 – 2025) for promoting decent working conditions and labour rights in Southern Africa's construction sector. Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are the pilot countries where the project aims to contribute to addressing decent work deficits.
The project collaborates with governments, employers’ associations, trade unions, and market actors to promote decent work and labour productivity in the construction sector.
However for many workers, especially those within the informal economy, these opportunities come with precarious labour conditions. Workers in the sector, including young and female employees, often face temporary, high-risk, and underpaid roles, lacking the protection of labour legislation and programmes.
Recognizing the need for change, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), have initiated a four-year project (2022 – 2025) for promoting decent working conditions and labour rights in Southern Africa's construction sector. Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are the pilot countries where the project aims to contribute to addressing decent work deficits.
The project collaborates with governments, employers’ associations, trade unions, and market actors to promote decent work and labour productivity in the construction sector.
- At the country level, the project aims to address decent work deficits in each country by applying a market systems development approach to developing and pilot interventions with national governments, the private sector, and the ILO’s social partners –trade unions and employers’ organisations that will lead to systemic and sustainable change in the sector
- At the sub-regional level, the project aims to build on the knowledge gained from implementing at country-level and work with the SADC secretariat to advocate for scaling-up systemic interventions and inform effective policy change across SADC member States.