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The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2001.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Government indicates in its report that a draft national labour policy was formulated in October 2000 which envisages improving the productive capacity of the economy in order to create improved employment opportunities. It also aims to establish an appropriate legal framework for the operation of the labour market, which will provide an environment suitable for both local and foreign investors. The Government explains that employment in the formal sector has been declining over the years from 75 per cent in 1975 to 10.3 per cent in 2000. The number of workers engaged in informal sector activities was approximately 3.6 million in 1999, representing 79 per cent of the total labour force. The Committee notes that from the information provided, it can be determined that most of those living in the informal economy can be classified as poor. Poverty is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas (83 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively, according to data included in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, April 2002) but it has risen faster in urban areas lately due to failing industries and rising unemployment. Most of the rural poor are small-scale farmers, followed by medium-scale farmers. The Committee would appreciate receiving a detailed report containing the information requested in the report form on the principal policies pursued and measures taken with a view to ensuring that there is work for all who are available for and seeking work, with particular reference to policies and measures implemented under the national labour policy mentioned above.

2. The Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of the Labour Market Policy document mentioned in its report, or any other text defining an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee notes that the document covers HIV/AIDS and the labour market and that AIDS threatens the country’s capacity-building efforts principally because it strikes the educated and skilled as well as the uneducated. The long periods of illness of the skilled personnel in employment has translated into severe loss in economic productivity (as mentioned in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify the efforts made to reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on employment.

3. The Government refers in its report to education and training sector reform programmes in order to improve access, quality and equity in basic education and training in Zambia. The Government intends to support measures aimed at increasing women’s participation in technical education, vocational education and entrepreneurship training. Please provide information on the measures taken in order to meet the needs of particular categories of workers such as women, young people, older workers and disabled workers. Please also report on the measures taken to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

4. The Government states that it wishes to establish a comprehensive labour market information system and is working in consultation with the ILO Area Office on this subject. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment in the country, both in the aggregate and as they affect particular categories of workers such as women, young persons, older workers and disabled workers. Please also indicate how the statistical data collected has been used as a basis for deciding on measures of employment policy, within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

5. Article 3. The Government mentions in its report the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council which will participate in policy development and implementation at all stages to enhance consensus building. The Committee requests the Government to provide the details requested in the report form with regard to the consultations concerning employment policies held by the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council. The Committee points out that this important provision of the Convention requires the involvement in consultations of Government authorities and of representatives of the persons affected by the employment policy measures to be taken. The aim of the consultations is to take fully into account their experience and views and secure their full cooperation in formulating and implementing the employment policy. Representatives of the persons affected must include representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations and also representatives of sectors of the economically active population such as the rural and informal sectors. In view of the importance of the informal economy, the Committee would appreciate receiving in the next report information on any consultations envisaged with representatives of the rural and informal sectors on the matters covered by the Convention.