Zambia Pledges Decent Work and Fair Wages at ILO Conference
Zambia has renewed its pledge to promote social justice and fair labour practices on the global stage, with Labour and Social Security Minister Brenda Mwika Tambatamba emphasizing the country’s drive to create inclusive, equitable and sustainable workplaces.
Delivering a virtual address to the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Ms. Tambatamba declared that decent work, fair wages, and social dialogue are fundamental to Zambia’s economic development agenda.
She stressed that the Government remains resolute in its commitment to uphold international labour rights and tackle systemic disparities in the world of work.
“Social justice in the labour market is the basis for sustainable economic development,” she stated, adding that the Government is addressing barriers that fuel inequality and marginalization.
Responding to the ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo’s report citing global deficits in social protection and wage equity, the Minister acknowledged Zambia’s own challenges, such as youth unemployment, widespread informality, low productivity, and rural digital exclusion.
However, she said these could be addressed through “renewed solidarity, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment.”
To this end, Ms. Tambatamba highlighted several interventions including labour law reforms, expansion of social protection to 1.2 million households via the Social Cash Transfer programme, and bursary support under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Other initiatives include promoting equal pay, eradicating child and forced labour, and fostering inclusive tripartite dialogue involving government, workers, and employers.
“We are strengthening engagement with workers’ and employers’ organizations to improve working conditions and industrial harmony,” she said, reaffirming Zambia’s alignment with international labour standards and the International Labour Organization (ILO) framework.
