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Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Zambia (RATIFICATION: 1964)

Other comments on C117

Observation

Direct Request

2023
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Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the adoption of the Eight Nacional Development Plan (8NDP) 2022-26, which revises the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) 2017-21 and focuses on “socio-economic transformation for improved livelihood.” The 8NDP introduces a set of strategic interventions anchored on economic transformation and job creation, human and social development, environmental sustainability, and good governance environment. The strategic development area on human and social envisages the adoption of measures with a view to improving education and skills development; health, food and nutrition; water supply and sanitation; as well as to reducing poverty, vulnerability and inequalities. The Committee further notes the detailed information provided by the Government regarding the impact of the measures undertaken to improve the living conditions of the population in both urban and rural areas. The Government indicates that measures have been taken to improve access to health care, including the recruitment of 27,620 health workers, which represents 49 per cent of the workforce required to provide quality health services. The Government adds that 563 health posts, 92 mini hospitals, 21 district hospitals and 2 specialized hospitals have been operationalized and five health centres have been upgraded into hospitals (in Chilenje, Matero, Kanyama, Chawama and Chipata). The Government reports that there are 2 425 199 members to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which provides access to the services of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) public and private accredited facilities across the country. However, the Government indicates that the registration level is still low and that measures are being taken in collaboration with the ILO to extend the coverage of the NHIS to persons that have no contributory capacity. The Government also refers the adoption of measures to reduce maternal, child and infant mortality in the framework of the Zambia Integrated Family Planning –Costed Implementation Plan and the Maternal Health Programme. The Government reports that despite improvements, the mortality rate remains high (707 in 2021). Furthermore, the Committee notes that, according to the 8NDP report, the prevalence of poverty levels in the country is progressively reducing in part by the expansion of social protection programmes. In this regard, the Government refers to the provision of several non-contributory transfers to households in vulnerable situations (through in cash or in-kind transfers, fee waivers and subsidies) with a view to reducing poverty, such as the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS), the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme, and the Emergency Cash Transfer. Lastly, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the measures taken to reduce the incidence of HIV and AIDS through enhancing awareness and integration of prevention interventions. The Government indicates that anti-retroviral medication is free for all persons living in the country. The Government reports that HIV prevalence has been declining over the years from 14.3 per cent in 2007 to an estimated 11 per cent in 2021. In view of the above information, the Committee notes with interest that the 8NDP has the necessary multidimensional vision to secure coordinated policy interventions enabling to reach the objective of raising the standards of living, such as those referred to above in the area of education, social protection, high quality public services. The Committee requests the Government to supply more information on measures taken to promote the productive capacity and the improvement of standards of living of agricultural producers (article 4, paras (a) to (e) of the Convention) and secure the maintenance of minimum standards of living, based on official inquiries into living conditions, conducted after consultation with the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by age, sex and region, relating to the impact of theEight Nacional Development Plan (8NDP)2022-26, and other plans and programmes adopted with a view to promoting inclusive economic development, improving the national standard of living and reducing poverty (Article 2 of the Convention). It further invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of measures taken to reduce the incidence of HIV and AIDS, and to increase access to antiretroviral medications and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Part III. Migrant workers. The Committee notes the adoption in July 2022 of the National Migration Policy, which envisages the adoption of measures to achieve “a well-managed migration for sustainable national development”. The Policy identifies and prioritizes a set of thematic areas, such as labour migration and education, diaspora engagement, irregular migration, forced displacement and internal migration. Furthermore, the Government indicates the launching in 2019 of the first Zambia Country Migration Profile, which is intended to help inform migration governance in the country, including for evidence-based policy, planning and decision-making. The Government adds that is working in the development of a National Migration Strategy. The Committee notes from the National Migration Policy that challenges related to migration in Zambia include irregular migration, forced displacement, inadequate disaggregated migration data, untapped development potential of labor migration and remittances. Further, some of the challenges experienced by different categories of migrants, particularly women, youth and children include sexual exploitation, human trafficking, gender-based violence, limited opportunities for portability of social security benefits and unfair labour practices such as long working hours, meagre earnings below the minimum wage. In this respect, the National Migration Policy includes among its objectives, strengthening mechanisms and governance frameworks to maximize the development potential of labour migration, effectively managing international migration for socio-economic development, and enhancing migration data management. The Committee also notes that the Government reiterates that various laws and regulation are non-discriminatory and provide equal protection to citizens and migrant workers who are formally registered in the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the impact of the policies and programmes adopted on improving the terms and conditions of employment of both internal and international migrants, including those adopted in the framework of the National Migration Policy. It also requests the Government to provide specific information on the reasonable steps taken: (i) to ensure that their living and working conditions are healthy (Article 6); and (ii) to encourage the transfer of part of the workers’ wages and savings from the area of labour utilization to the area of labour supply (Article 7).

Part VI. Education and vocational training. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the measures taken to increase access of the population to education and achieving universal primary education, including introducing a free education policy for primary and secondary schools. The Government reports that, as December 2019, there were 9,282 primary schools, 1,288 secondary schools and 25 colleges for education. In 2020, there were 4.3 million of students (2,130,643 were men and 2,174,583 were women). The Government adds that 52 new schools were finalized, and 82 secondary schools are being constructed in seven provinces targeting communities with high levels of poverty. In addition, 30,496 teachers have been recruited during the reporting period. In addition, financial Support was provided through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to children from families in extreme poverty living in remote areas to attend boarding schools. Moreover, the Government indicates that, in the framework of the implementation of the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods Project (GEWEL) in 39 districts, 28,964 girls from extremely poor household received support to remain school. The Committee notes that, according to the 8NDP report, as at 2020 net primary enrolment rates stood at 81.8 per cent as compared to 87.9 per cent in 2017. Improvements have also been registered in the proportion of girls in school at primary level. In 2020, for every 100 boys enrolled in primary school, 103 girls were enrolled, while at secondary level, for every 100 boys enrolled, 94 girls were enrolled.

The Committee refers to its comments on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), where it notes the set of measures undertaken by the Government to increase access to the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) system as well as the challenges remain with regard to access and participation in TEVET education. The Government reports that the number of TEVET registered training institutions increased from 293 in 2016 to 308 in 2021. Nonetheless, according to the TEVET quality assurance system, in 2021 only 7.8 per cent of the training institutions were classified as Grade 1, which refer to those institutions with well-established management systems, qualified and experienced management staff, trainers accredited with TEVETA in line with the TEVET Act, appropriate and equipped workshops. With regard to university education, the Government reports that the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Boards provided student loans to 22,200 students (12,405 men and 10,095 women) to study in public universities and 1,244 students received scholarship to study abroad. The Committee notes, however, that according to the 8NDP report, while more universities have been established, there is a weak regulatory framework which has led to the compromise in the quality of university education and a lack of adequate qualitied training personnel at tertiary level. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information, including statistical data, disaggregated by age, sex and region, on the impact of the measures taken to improve education and skills development, as part of social policy in line with Articles 15 and 16 of the Convention.