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Decent deficits in employment and productivity are one of the major development challenges facing the Southern African Development Community region.
In addition, the creation of decent jobs and the development of productivity are both recognized as objectives and means of development and poverty eradication in SADC.
These were commented on Monday by the Zimbabwe and Namibia country director, Hopolang Phororo, of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Windhoek.
Phororo spoke at the meeting of the employment and labor sector of the SADC Ministries of Labor, Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Industry, as well as organizations from employers and workers.
The meeting, which wrapped up yesterday, focused on "Succeeding job-rich growth to eradicate poverty: policy coherence and inter-ministerial coordination to maximize decent job creation and productivity growth". .
Developing countries continue to report high unemployment rates, persistent low quality jobs and poor workplaces. Inequalities in labor market outcomes persist in a number of demographic groups, with women being less likely to participate in the labor market, facing an overall gender gap of more than 26% and less likely to find employment when they participate, she said. .
"Young people are much less likely to be employed than adults, with an unemployment rate three times higher than that of adults. Africa will certainly miss its chance to reap the demographic dividend if young people do not end up in productive jobs, "said Phororo.
In addition, countries in the region need to target job creation as a goal of macroeconomic policies and programs, and full employment should become a key macroeconomic objective, alongside low inflation and sound fiscal management.
"The real challenge is to ensure that economies create jobs in the context of inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The persistent lack of decent work opportunities, inadequate investment and under-consumption lead to sub-optimal socio-economic outcomes at the national level and in the region as a whole. However, the ILO recognizes the recent and ongoing efforts and commitments of the governments of Africa and the SADC region, particularly for their commitment and determination to meet the challenges of employment. in the region, "she added.
Speaking on the same platform, Deputy Minister of Labor, Tommy Nambahu, said the problems hindering socio-economic development are enormous and pose problems for almost every SADC member state.
He added that, from the point of view of work and employment, high rates of unemployment, underemployment, child labor, precarious jobs, labor recruitment, Work and restrictions on the freedom and rights of workers are all real factors threatening the development agenda of the region.
"Investment and trade in the context of regional integration requires consensus among stakeholders and actors, so such a gathering is an appropriate forum for articulating implementation strategies and concrete actions", he declared.
Nambahu noted that, as SADC is one of the promising economic blocks on the African continent, the region needs to plan together, act together, implement together and grow in a sustainable manner.
This would be possible if labor and employment officials worked with finance, trade and investment, industrialization and economic planning officials.
The Vice Minister said: "The region is attractive for investment from the inside and by far. It should therefore be open to all investors not only serious, but also to those who are willing to respect its laws, especially labor law and workers' rights. However, the region must be careful not to be used in western and eastern fighting, the former of which were former colonial masters who did not focus on the continent's infrastructure development, which is the backbone of any economic development and any significant growth. "
– [email protected], twitter: Char_Ngatjiheue.
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