Initiative to facilitate the transition from informality to formality launched in Bulawayo
The initiative is part of the Employment Promotion and Labour Market Governance Programme (2019 -2020), which in part, seeks to facilitate transition to formality in Zimbabwe.
6 December 2019
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: The ILO in collaboration with the tripartite partners: Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare; Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions launched an initiative to facilitate the transition from the informal economy to the formal economy in the City of Bulawayo recently.
The initiative is part of the Employment Promotion and Labour Market Governance Programme (2019 -2020), which in part, seeks to facilitate transition to formality in Zimbabwe, in the process, deepening the respect for workers’ fundamental rights and ensuring opportunities for income security, livelihoods and entrepreneurship. The intervention is also contributing to the broader efforts to promote the creation, preservation and sustainability of enterprises and decent jobs in the formal economy and the coherence of macroeconomic, employment, social protection and other social policies.
Speaking at the event to mark the formal inception of the project in Bulawayo, the informal economy associations commended the intervention and expressed their hope that it would provide a tangible outcome not only for the City of Bulawayo, but also at the national level. The informal economy actors welcomed the inclusive approach that the ILO had adopted by bringing to the table various government departments; business member organizations; private firms; organised labour; local authority and informal economy representatives. They pointed out that the diverse challenges faced by informal economy players required a coordinated and collaborative approach to policymaking and implementation.
The site in Bulawayo was selected on the potential it presents to become a model for other micro-enterprises. The association representing the traders has been able to collaborate with private property owners and negotiate long-term leases. Despite being progressive, the site remains with many decent work deficits, which could provide an opportunity for policy lessons.
At the same event, the representative of the Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan province, Ms A. Makoni, welcomed the project and expressed the province’s commitment to foster economic growth and to ensure better lives for the residents by uplifting those working in the informal economy.
said Mr F Gondo, who was speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development. He shared some of the challenges faced by actors in the informal economy and advised the meeting that the Government was in the process of adopting some provisions of the ILO’s Recommendation 204 on the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy.
The keynote speaker, Mr S. Masanga, noted the importance of the project as it provided a platform to stakeholders to respond to the decent work deficits in the informal economy. He commended the objective to enhance productivity and create better working conditions, advising the meeting that the intervention was aligned with the Government’s priorities.
The ILO Director, Ms H Phororo, underlined the importance of facilitating the transition from informality to formality, saying:
Speaking on behalf of employers and unions, Mr T. Matongo and Mr N Banda, respectively, expressed support for the intervention, noting that the benefits coming from it would impact positively on the economy, to the advantage of workers, their incomes and working conditions.
The initiative is part of the Employment Promotion and Labour Market Governance Programme (2019 -2020), which in part, seeks to facilitate transition to formality in Zimbabwe, in the process, deepening the respect for workers’ fundamental rights and ensuring opportunities for income security, livelihoods and entrepreneurship. The intervention is also contributing to the broader efforts to promote the creation, preservation and sustainability of enterprises and decent jobs in the formal economy and the coherence of macroeconomic, employment, social protection and other social policies.
The site in Bulawayo was selected on the potential it presents to become a model for other micro-enterprises. The association representing the traders has been able to collaborate with private property owners and negotiate long-term leases. Despite being progressive, the site remains with many decent work deficits, which could provide an opportunity for policy lessons.
At the same event, the representative of the Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan province, Ms A. Makoni, welcomed the project and expressed the province’s commitment to foster economic growth and to ensure better lives for the residents by uplifting those working in the informal economy.
“Government recognises the important role of the informal economy”,
said Mr F Gondo, who was speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development. He shared some of the challenges faced by actors in the informal economy and advised the meeting that the Government was in the process of adopting some provisions of the ILO’s Recommendation 204 on the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy.
The keynote speaker, Mr S. Masanga, noted the importance of the project as it provided a platform to stakeholders to respond to the decent work deficits in the informal economy. He commended the objective to enhance productivity and create better working conditions, advising the meeting that the intervention was aligned with the Government’s priorities.
The ILO Director, Ms H Phororo, underlined the importance of facilitating the transition from informality to formality, saying:
“the lessons learnt from Bulawayo will be of use to national actors and beyond by informing us to develop better insights to develop more responsive policies…..we hope that the project will also help to deepen the respect for workers’ fundamental rights and ensure opportunities for income security, livelihoods and entrepreneurship”.
Speaking on behalf of employers and unions, Mr T. Matongo and Mr N Banda, respectively, expressed support for the intervention, noting that the benefits coming from it would impact positively on the economy, to the advantage of workers, their incomes and working conditions.