ZAMBIA DECENT WORK
COUNTRY PROGRAMME
2013 – 2016
BACKGROUND
Work is the basic economic activity which is central to people’s
livelihoods
In addition to providing income, work can lead to broader social
and economic progress, strengthening individuals, their families
and communities. This outcome however is not possible if work is
not decent.
Decent Work programming in Zambia started with the first Z-
DWCP 2007-2011
Z-DWCP 2013-2016 was prepared through a national consultative
process
• Z-DWCP is a reflection of the priorities of all partners and is consistent
with the focus of the national development agenda
• Management Structure: DWCP Technical Advisory Committee
Priorities of the Zambia Decent Work
Country Programme for 2013 – 2016
Goal: To contribute to improved, gainful, secure and
rights based employment for youth, women and men
 Priority 1: Effective application of fundamental principles and
rights at work to support equitable and inclusive economic
growth in Zambia
 Priority 2: Effective social dialogue contributes to sound industrial
relations and sustained economic growth in Zambia
 Priority 3: More and better employment opportunities created,
with focus on targeted groups
 Priority 4: Strengthened social protection systems including
enhanced HIV and AIDS work place response
Priorities of the ZDWCP and expected
outcomes
Priority 1: Effective application of
fundamental principles and rights at
work to support equitable and inclusive
economic growth in Zambia

Enhanced application of fundamental principles and
rights at work through revision of key legislation
and policies

Increased observance of labour laws and application
of fundamental principles and rights at work

Enhanced Social Dialogue through a functional,
effective and more relevant Tripartite Consultative
Labour Council administrative structure

Enhanced
Dialogue

Increased decent employment opportunities for
target beneficiaries within MSMEs in sectors with
growth potential for enhanced human development

Enhanced local development and employment by
multinational enterprises

Enhanced utilization of Labour Market Information
(LMI) for policy planning and implementation
industrial
harmony
through
Social
Enhanced application of Social Security policies and
laws in Zambia
 Extension of social security coverage to the informal
economy
 Increased access to HIV services by women and men
workers in key economic sectors
Linkages with the RSNDP
 Employment and labour is covered under two broad objectives, namely, to promote
employment and job creation and to enhance human development
 Specifically, the following are the measures within the RSNDP that have a direct link
with the ZDWCP:
 Labour productivity improvement;
 Pension reforms to ensure efficient and reliability;
 Labour market reforms to create the appropriate environment for employment
generation by addressing bottlenecks that constrain absorption of the labour
force; Strengthening of the labour market information system;
 Review the National Employment and Labour Market Policy and align it to the
Industrialization and Job Creation Strategy;
 Review the Employment Act, Industrial and Labour Relations Act and the
Minimum Wages and Employment Act and accompanying Statutory
Instruments to provide a supportive environment for smooth operation of
labour markets with a view to creating decent work; and
 Creation of decent jobs with guaranteed social security, occupational health
and safety, maternity protection, decent income within the acceptable
minimum wage and paid leave as provided for in the relevant legislation.
Linkages with Industrialization and Job
Creation Strategy
Formal employment creation for the unemployed, unpaid family
workers and informal job holders and underemployed;
Implementation of the decent work agenda;
Improvement of labour productivity and productivity of MSMEs;
Reduce cost of retirement and redundancy by repealing and
replacement of SI 1 and 2 of 2011 governing retirement/redundancy pay
and transfer burden of payment from employer to NAPSA;
Undertake labour reforms and implement a flexible minimum wage
based on ability to pay;
Implement a labour information data management system to
effectively and efficiently track employment in the country; and
Operationalise the National Labour Productivity Centre at the Ministry
of Labour.
ILO support to the implementation of the ZDWCP
Achieving reduction of child labour in support of
education in the Tobacco Sector
Priority 1: Effective application of
fundamental principles and rights at
work to support equitable and inclusive
economic growth in Zambia
Promoting the rights and opportunities of persons
with disabilities in employment through legislation
(focus on inclusive vocational training)
Making Decent Work a Reality for Domestic workers
Law Growth Nexus II – Construction Sector
More and better jobs in the Mining sector
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights
at work in the Mining Sector
Rural Youth Programme:
Decent jobs for youth and improved food security through
the development of sustainable rural enterprises
Zambia Green Jobs Programme: Enhancing
Competiveness and Sustainable Business among
MSMEs in the Construction Sector
UN Joint Programme on Gender Based Violence
Economic Empowerment and HIV Vulnerability
Reduction Along Transport Corridors in
Southern Africa
Building National Floors of Social Protection
Additional ILO support to the
implementation of the ZDWCP
- Review of the National Employment and Labour Market
Policy
- Support to the Labour Law Reforms
- Support to Employers and Workers Organizations
- Capacity building on understanding and reporting on the
International Labour Standards
- Technical advise on Labour Market Information
- Pro-employment budgetting and targetting
- Promotion of Social Dialogue
Total estimated ILO contribution
for 2014-2015: $11.6million