Promoting a whole-of-government approach to address decent work deficits in the informal economy in Zimbabwe.
After two years of nation-wide consultations, coordinated in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Zimbabwe), the ILO supported the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare to review the proposed National Strategy on the Formalization of the Informal Economy. In a bid to promote a whole-of-government approach to addressing decent work deficits in the informal economy in the country, thirty-five government officials from strategic ministries and government institutions were brought together for the review process.
7 June 2023
(ILO News, HARARE) The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, with the support of the ILO, held the final workshop to review the draft National Strategy on the Formalization of the Informal Economy that has been approved by Parliament and awaits the final approval by the Cabinet. Thirty-five government officials gathered at Holiday Inn in Mutare for two days to review each of the proposed eight priority areas and ensure that the proposed actions were in line with ongoing initiatives in the various Government Ministries, Departments, and institutions.
The accelerated reduction of quantity and quality of jobs in Zimbabwe is becoming increasingly evident in the streets of major cities like Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare as more Zimbabweans turn to the streets to make a living. Although there are many government and private sector initiatives to try to curb the increasing unemployment, the weakening purchasing power among the citizens, and the deterioration of working conditions in general, has added to the challenges arising from negative and erratic economic growth and the lack of coordination of the interventions.
Given the range of Government departments that have responsibilities for the informal economy, participants recognized the need to integrate existing policies to eliminate fragmentation, as well as discourage departments from working in ‘silos’ to achieve seamless governance of this sector of the economy.. The workshop participants revisited the importance of a whole-of-government approach so as to achieve the desired results.
The ILO Specialist on Informal Economy and Officer-in-Charge of the ILO Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, Ms. Annamarie Kiaga, for emphasis said: “the success of this very inclusive national formalization strategy will not depend only on its clear objectives, as articulated by various stakeholders, including informal economy actors in all the provinces of Zimbabwe; there is need for political commitment, viable integrated Government structures, a strong culture of collaboration and incentives among all stakeholders”.
Mr. Clifford Matorera, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, representing the Permanent Secretary Mr Simon Masanga, reiterated the Government’s commitment to addressing the informal economy challenge. He urged all government ministries and departments to take ownership of the strategy because no one Ministry could successfully implement the priority areas on its own. He expressed gratitude to the ILO and UNDP for the support over the last two years for the nation-wide consultations and acknowledged the commitment and engagement among key stakeholders including workers and employers’ representatives; the informal economy actors and their representatives. He assured participants that following this final review, the National Strategy on Formalization of the Informal Economy was expected to be presented to Cabinet, followed by an official launch.
The accelerated reduction of quantity and quality of jobs in Zimbabwe is becoming increasingly evident in the streets of major cities like Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare as more Zimbabweans turn to the streets to make a living. Although there are many government and private sector initiatives to try to curb the increasing unemployment, the weakening purchasing power among the citizens, and the deterioration of working conditions in general, has added to the challenges arising from negative and erratic economic growth and the lack of coordination of the interventions.
Given the range of Government departments that have responsibilities for the informal economy, participants recognized the need to integrate existing policies to eliminate fragmentation, as well as discourage departments from working in ‘silos’ to achieve seamless governance of this sector of the economy.. The workshop participants revisited the importance of a whole-of-government approach so as to achieve the desired results.
The ILO Specialist on Informal Economy and Officer-in-Charge of the ILO Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, Ms. Annamarie Kiaga, for emphasis said: “the success of this very inclusive national formalization strategy will not depend only on its clear objectives, as articulated by various stakeholders, including informal economy actors in all the provinces of Zimbabwe; there is need for political commitment, viable integrated Government structures, a strong culture of collaboration and incentives among all stakeholders”.
Mr. Clifford Matorera, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, representing the Permanent Secretary Mr Simon Masanga, reiterated the Government’s commitment to addressing the informal economy challenge. He urged all government ministries and departments to take ownership of the strategy because no one Ministry could successfully implement the priority areas on its own. He expressed gratitude to the ILO and UNDP for the support over the last two years for the nation-wide consultations and acknowledged the commitment and engagement among key stakeholders including workers and employers’ representatives; the informal economy actors and their representatives. He assured participants that following this final review, the National Strategy on Formalization of the Informal Economy was expected to be presented to Cabinet, followed by an official launch.