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Keynote address at the launch of Zimbabwe Decent Work Country Programme (2012-2015)
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
February 14, 2013

Director of Ceremony, Mr. Lancaster Museka

Minister of Labour and Social Services, Hon. Paurina Mpariwa (MP)

Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Hon. Saviour Kasukuwere (MP)

Cabinet Ministers here present

Honourable Ministers from ARLAC member states here present

Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Services, Senator Mutsvangwa

African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, Your Excellency Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko

President of the Employers' Confederation of Zimbabwe, Mr. Anthony Mandiwanza

President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Mr. George Nkiwane

The ILO Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Charles Dan

United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr. Alain Noudehou

Representative of the ILO Director of the Regional Decent Work Team, Mr. Joni Musabayana

ILO Country Office Director Mr. Alphonse Tabi-Abodo

Distinguished representatives of UN agencies

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Rtd. Col. Christian Katsande

Members of the International Donor Community here present

Senior Government officials here present

Distinguished delegates

Invited guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Comrades and Friends

It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to address you this evening as we gather on this momentous occasion for the launch of the third generation of the Zimbabwe Decent Work Country Programme.

The Decent Work Agenda has indeed taken centre stage and increased prominence in the world of work since 2005 across the world. It is pleasing to note that Zimbabwe has been a pacesetter in the region, and had made considerable progress in embracing the decent work agenda through successful development and implementation of two cycles since 2005.

As we gather here today, let us take a moment to reflect on where we have come from as a nation, and where we are going in terms of implementation of our national Decent Work Country Programme.

I say this mindful of the fact that decent work entails the recognition of the need for men and women across the world to freely choose productive employment in conditions of freedom, equity and dignity; hence the reference to the four strategic pillars of the ILO decent work agenda. Zimbabwe has had mixed fortunes in the realization of decent work across all sectors of the economy.

While some sectors have performed better than others, the overall economic environment has had its toll and militated against the full implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme since its inception in 2005.

Notwithstanding these challenges, Government has prioritised economic growth through the development and implementation of blueprints that seek to create an enabling environment in which the tenets of decent work can be realised.

It is in this regard that I wish to emphasise the importance of ensuring policy coherence within the implementation of national policies. That said, I note with satisfaction that the Decent Work Country Programme that we are launching today will be implemented within a framework of other ongoing programmes including the Medium Term Plan (MTP) and the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF), among others.

The Decent Work Country Programme operationalises to a great extent issues to do with labour which are made reference to in the MTP and ZUNDAF. This is indeed commendable and requires the support of all national stakeholders because of the need for the various policy documents to speak to each other and be implemented simultaneously and in a mutually supportive manner.

I am pleased to note that the tripartite partners have prioritised critical issues in the world of work affecting the development of our country, namely:-

• Promoting Productive Employment and Decent Jobs;
• Strengthening Social Dialogue capacities and processes for sustainable socio-economic development;
• Improving the application and implementation of international labour standards; and
• Increasing coverage of Social Protection through Mainstreaming Elements of the Social protection Floor.

The issue of job creation remains critical, especially in countries such as ours. Any new government that comes after the next election must be serious about the issue of job creation. With an unemployment rate of above 80 percent, a job ceases to become a simple economic issue. It becomes a far much greater issue that affects not only economic growth and development, but also political stability and social cohesion among the people.

A decent job brings back human dignity and allows people to pursue their dreams.

In Zimbabwe we regard employment creation as a real game changer. Job creation will begin to address the concerns of millions of our people who have left schools, colleges, vocational training centres, polytechnics and universities. Job creation will not only bring with it dignity among our people, but is a prerequisite to economic growth and development.

The prioritisation of employment should translate into tangible results that can be enjoyed across sectors. These are the results that we want, and indeed, that is the way to go. For as long as our interventions translate into practical and meaningful results, we can be assured that the decent work agenda will realise its full potential in Zimbabwe.

We aspire to create millions of jobs in order to uplift our people, to have a meaningful growth rate per annum, macro-economic stability anchored by a single digit inflation and a $100 billion economy by 2040.

That is our aspiration as a nation.

In the same breath, I wish to call upon the full implementation of the Zimbabwe National Employment Policy Framework that was adopted by Cabinet on 1 June 2010. I believe some work has gone into establishment of working committees, and I wish to urge the tripartite partners to exert more energy in employment creation.

As we have seen, the commitment of Government in employment creation is buttressed in the MTP whose focus is mainly on growing the economy for poverty reduction. It is our considered view in Government that the best way to tackle poverty is through job-rich growth which translates into better livelihoods for our people.

It is also our fervent hope that social dialogue in Zimbabwe will transcend the boundaries that we have created for ourselves in our various constituencies, and create an environment within which Government can govern, business can thrive and workers can work in conditions of freedom and equity.

Having been launched at this very venue in February 2010, the Kadoma Declaration continues to be a living document from which the nation should draw lessons for meaningful and sustainable socio-economic development.

Director of Ceremony, Honourable Ministers, the 2012-2015 Decent Work Country Programme has also prioritised improving the application and implementation of international labour standards. As a member state of the ILO and with due cognisance of the developments in Zimbabwe's application of ratified conventions, I am happy to note that the current decent work programme has prioritised this very important area.

Ladies and gentlemen, we strive to be part of the family of nations once again and it engenders a good feeling to be subscribing to international best standards.

Zimbabwe has over the years, embraced the need to protect workers and employers for enhanced productivity and social justice in the world of work through domestication of ratified ILO conventions. The current labour law reform exercise is testimony to this.

I am optimistic that through collaborative efforts, Zimbabwe will come of age in the implementation of international labour standards through the goals and benchmarks of social justice and fairness in the world of work to foster more balanced economic and social development.

On the issue of social protection, we expect the Decent Work Country Programme to focus on expansion of the coverage of social security through integrating and mainstreaming productive social security mechanisms within the framework of an overall social protection policy environment.

In line with this, I urge the tripartite partners to work towards finalization and implementation of the Enhanced Social Protection Programme (ESPP). It is also during the implementation of this programme that we hope to see the finalisation and implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and a comprehensive social protection policy that is in sync with the ILO Social Protection Floor initiative.

I wish to pledge Government support for the full implementation of the third generation of the Zimbabwe Decent Work Country Programme. Government will redouble its efforts and spare no effort in ensuring that the decent work goals that we have set for ourselves will be realised. Government will continue to prioritise issues relating to the world of work because of the importance it attaches to enhancing people's livelihoods.

I wish to call upon Business, government and the workers to collaborate further in getting the country firmly on the recovery track through recapitalization, investment and promotion of fair labour practices. In the same spirit, I would like to encourage workers to broaden their scope of dialogue and engagement with both Government and Business in order to successfully implement the current Decent Work Country Programme.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude and on behalf of Zimbabwe, the sterling support and collaboration that the United Nations Country Team has rendered in past interventions affecting the world of work.

It is important to note that issues relating to the world of work are within a broader national context requiring an all-encompassing multi-sectoral approach. In this regard, the continued contribution of all UN agencies is greatly appreciated and will, without doubt, assist in the success of the decent work agenda.

Allow me to single out the ILO, our leading partner in promoting decent work in Zimbabwe. Indeed, the unwavering commitment of the ILO leadership requires due credit as evidenced by the presence today of a brother and friend, Mr. Charles Dan, the ILO Regional Director for Africa.

It is my sincere hope that the ILO will continue to walk with us, as you have always done, and that our partnership will be a formidable one, bearing fruit for the people of Zimbabwe.

I would like to commend the tripartite partners and especially congratulate them for the work done in developing the document before us today. It is known that consultations and negotiations among the tripartite partners are usually protracted but I must pay tribute to them, for the hard work that culminated in the development of this inclusive document.

I also hope that in the same spirit of tripartism, the tripartite partners will engage the ILO with a view to mobilising resources needed to implement the Decent Work Country Programme. Hopefully once resources are mobilised, implementation will start in the second quarter of 2013.

Finally, it is my singular honour and privilege to declare the third generation of the Zimbabwe Decent Work Country Programme officially launched.

I thank you.

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