ILO Head for Africa meets Zimbabwe's Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare

During his recent official visit Mr Chuma met with Honourable Goche; his Deputy Honourable Tongai Muzenda and the Permanent Secretary Mr Ngoni Masoka. The Minister welcomed Mr Chuma to Zimbabwe and congratulated him on his appointment as Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Africa. In his remarks the Minister also touched on some of the key discussions that took place on the sidelines of the Special Session of the African Union Labour and Social Affairs Commission Meeting of Ministers in Windhoek, Namibia as well as other issues of interest by the ILO member States from Africa.

In his response, Mr Chuma expressed his appreciation of the support and good working relationship between the Ministry of Labour and the ILO through the Country Office in Harare. Among other issues, the Regional Director assured the Minister of the ILO’s technical support especially towards up-scaling on-going initiatives including the Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development.

The Minister acknowledged the challenge of youth employment as well as the need to empower women. He indicated that although government had faced challenges supporting youth programmes, the on-going skills programme provided an opportunity for government to resuscitate its youth programmes including the Integrated Skills Outreach Programme (ISOP). ISOP is a community based initiative started in 2006 Government to reach out to the youth who cannot access formal learning by offering them technical and vocational skills through VTCs. The new intervention will also include working more closely with micro-finance services providers including the Small Enterprises Development Corporation (SEDCO). In addition, the Minister indicated that definite progress would be made on the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) legislation and that the labour law reform process was still under consultation among tripartite partners and other stakeholders.

Mr Chuma in his concluding remarks commended the sterling work that went into the implementation of the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry. He also made reference to trade unionism in the country and expected changes to the Public Service Act. The Minister concluded the meeting with comments on NSSA – the National Social Security Scheme and how it was complying to ILO guidelines and advise on investments of pensions.