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

1. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes that the report received in May 2006 substantially reproduces the information already contained in previous reports. It notes that Zambia has established a poverty reduction strategy and is also obliged to implement an active employment policy within the meaning of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122). The Committee refers to its observation of 2006 on Convention No. 122 and requests the Government to send an up to date appreciation of the manner in which it ensures that the “improvement in standards of living” has been regarded as the “principal objective in the planning of economic development” (Article 2 of Convention No. 117) and to provide information on the results achieved in combating poverty. The Committee reminds the Government that, in accordance with the Convention, in order to ascertain minimum standards of living for independent producers and wage earners, “account shall be taken of such essential family needs of the workers as food and its nutritive value, housing, clothing, medical care and education” (Article 5, paragraph 2).

2. Part III. Migrant workers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on migration movements in the country and on the measures taken to give effect to Articles 6 and 7 of the Convention.

3. Part VI. Education and training. Please indicate the measures that have been taken for the progressive development of education, vocational training and apprenticeship, and the manner in which the teaching of new production techniques has been organized as part of the social policy giving effect to the Convention (Articles 15 and 16).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2007.]