Zambia launches National Dialogue to ratify ILO Convention on Maternity Protection

Zambia launches National Dialogue to ratify ILO Convention on Maternity Protection

LUSAKA (ILO News) – The First Lady of Zambia, Dr Christine Kaseba-Sata opened on 27 March 2013 a National Tripartite Dialogue to discuss the ratification process of the ILO Convention 183 on maternity protection; a first in the regional bloc of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“If we have to conquer extreme poverty, reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity including malnutrition, promote gender equality and empowerment of women and combat HIV; we have to ratify the ILO Convention 183“, Dr Kaseba-Sata said to more than 130 high-level participants gathered at the New Government Complex in Lusaka.

The main focus of this all-inclusive National Dialogue is the development of a jointly agreed roadmap for ratification of maternity protection in Zambia based on the principles outlined in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 183 adopted in 2000. Zambia has ratified the 1979 Convention on Maternity Protection and has put in place measures that support Social Protection in Zambia including the social cash transfer scheme, the draft social security policy as well as the development of the social protection policy.

“The ratification of the Convention will be a good opportunity for government to provide mothers, both in formal and informal sector, an enabling environment that will place emphasis on the fact that every woman counts (…)”, the First Lady underscored in front of high-ranking delegates of key line Ministries as well as Chairpersons of workers’ and employers’ organizations, senior representatives of UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and academia among others.

“Moving forward, Government intends to, among other strategic interventions, ratify ILO Convention 183 (…), I can safely argue that these measures are meant to promote equality for all women in the workforce and the health and safety of the mother and child”, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Mr Rayford Mbulu stated calling for practical recommendations to ratify the flagship convention.

The National Tripartite Dialogue was launched with the active participation of representatives from across Zambian society, and on their willingness to define a shared vision and responsibility of maternity protection as an effective tool for the country’s future development agenda.

“Awareness-raising will be one of the major initiatives to be conducted this year for the purpose of providing legal literacy and knowledge to the general public on their rights as contained in the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000, No. 183. This is the importance that Government attaches to matters of maternity protection within the broader framework of social security, gender equality and equity”, Ministry of Gender and Child Development Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale explained.

“The effort being made by the Government (Zambia) towards ratifying convention 183 on Maternity Protection is a step in the right direction”, emphasized Joyce Nonde Simukoko, President of the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia.

The dialogue in Zambia will also build on social consensus and strong national ownership of the process of ratification. In this context, how to design and fund maternity benefits is another key issue on the National Tripartite Dialogue agenda.

“We wish to call on all participants and stakeholders to engage in a meaningful dialogue analysing both the positive and negative impacts (…)”, insisted Mr Alfred Masupha, President of the Zambia Federation of Employers citing the need for a potential review of the social security system in the country.

According to Leonard Hikaumba, President of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, “we are looking forward to (…) maternity protection in social insurance. (…) It will enable us explore various financing methods and lay to rest fears that our counter parts harbour of inflated costs to do with maternity protection”.

The recommendations and roadmap put forward by the National Dialogue will range from strengthening National laws, establishing mechanisms for advocacy and capacity building as well as providing technical support while fostering strategic partnerships.

“By moving towards ratification of Convention 183, we can help the country to take a decisive step toward protecting mothers and new-borns, and unleashing women’s full economic and social potential for a stronger, productive and competitive Zambia”, concluded Belinda Chanda of ILO Country Office for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on behalf of the Director, Martin Clemensson.

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Note to correspondents:

Journalists interested in covering the conference, please visit www.ilo.org/africa for all detailed information on the national tripartite dialogue on maternity protection.

Interviews and photo ops can be scheduled via the ILO office in Lusaka on +260 (1) 252 779, [email protected] and/or [email protected] + 260 971 998 493