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New labour migration centre launched in Beitbridge
International Organisation on Migration (IOM)
August 27, 2009

Today the Government of Zimbabwe will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of South Africa to strengthen cooperation and support between the two countries in the fields of labour and employment that launches the new IOM Labour Migration Centre at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre. The signing will take place at the centre where IOM has assisted more than 314,000 returned Zimbabweans since 2006, and will hopefully serve as another means to reduce irregular migration and promote safe and legal migration options for Zimbabweans.

In partnership with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the South African Department of Labour, the new IOM Labour Migration Centre in Beitbridge is part of a pilot project that seeks to reduce irregular migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa by facilitating the temporary migration of seasonal workers to the Limpopo Province. Initially, Chiredzi, Masvingo and Beitbridge district labour offices will participate in the pilot project, with the main labour migration centre located at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre. Job seekers will register with their district labour centre and these profiles will be sent to a database at the labour migration centre in Beitbridge. Concurrently, South African farmers register their labour requirements at the labour migration centre in Beitbridge. Through specialized software a job seekers and farmers will be matched followed by screenings by the ZRP and Zimbabwean Health Authorities, and interviews with the farmers. Following the matching process workers will be issued with passports, work permits allowing them to travel for the duration of their contracts in South Africa. A minimum of five commercial farms and 5,000 job seekers will be targeted in the pilot phase.

This development comes at a critical time when South Africa has announced a Special Dispensation Permit for Zimbabweans wanting to live and work in South Africa. "The partnership is clearly in line with our efforts to strengthen cooperation and support in labour migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa," said Mr. Marcelo Pisani, IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission. "Building partnerships like these between neighboring countries is a result of trust in their continuous and effective efforts to protect and secure a better future for labour migrants," he added. Since 2008, the International Organization for Migration in Zimbabwe (IOM) has been implementing a cross border labour migration project to facilitate the temporary and safe migration of Zimbabwe farm workers to the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Following the signing of the MOU the temporary labour migration project will be further strengthened to assist with the recruitment and selection of job seekers in targeted districts located in south eastern Zimbabwe.

The cross border labour migration project and labour centre is made possible with support from Swedish SIDA, IOM 1035 Facility, and ILO provision of IT Technology.

For additional information please contact, Judith Chinamaringa, IOM Zimbabwe, Tel: +263 11 885 266, Email:
jchinamaringa@iom.int

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