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Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Zambia (RATIFICATION: 1979)

1. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government's report. In its previous observation, the Committee note the decision taken in 1987 to abandon the IMF restructuring programme owing to its negative economic and social effects, and to prepare, within the framework of the Interim National Development Plan (INDP) a new economic recovery programme based on the country's own resources. In its report for the period 1989-90, the Government indicates that it has laid down employment objectives and strategies within the ambit of the Fourth National Development Plan (FNDP) for 1989-93, but that the achievements during the period under review have been somewhat limited. The reasons given by the Government concern the macro-economic measures implemented in the context of the Fourth Plan and their serious effects on employment and training. The Government draws attention to the wage rises following the deregulation of prices as factors that have affected employment and investment levels.

2. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on: (i) the employment objectives laid down in the Fourth Plan (1989-93), indicating to what extent they are in the process of being attained and the particular difficulties encountered in this respect; (ii) the main policies pursued and measures taken, with particular reference to overall and sectoral development policies, labour market policies and education and training policies; and (iii) the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment (Article 1 of the Convention).

3. With regard to sectoral development policies, the Government's report indicates that the tourism sector is receiving high priority, in particular because it has great potential in terms of generating employment opportunities and bringing in foreign exchange earnings. These features were pointed out by the Committee in its General Survey on the Instruments concerning Human Resource Development, which, in the context of ILO technical co-operation projects which are gaining considerable importance in this sector, points out that the decisive element in such projects is the training component. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the attainment of the objectives referred to in the report, particularly as concerns employment and training.

4. In its previous observation, the Committee noted with interest the social partners' participation in the definition of objectives and strategies for the Fourth National Development Plan, and the improvement in formal consultations with workers and employers in the context of the Industrial Relations Act. The Committee hopes that the next report will contain information on co-operation with the representatives of the persons affected, as required by Article 3 of the Convention, particularly as regards implementation of the employment policy.

5. Furthermore, a direct request is being addressed to the Government on a number of other points concerning the application of the Convention.