Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

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

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. In response to the Committee’s 2013 direct request, the Government reports on the impact of the revised Sixth National Development Plan 2013–16 (R-SNDP), which revised the Sixth National Development Plan 2011–15. The R-SNDP focusses on “people-centred growth and development” and, as was the case with previous plans, it aims to achieve the objectives set out in the National Long-Term Vision 2030 of making Zambia a “prosperous middle-income country by 2030”. The R-SNDP focuses on public capital investments that favour rural development and job creation, to achieve inclusive growth. The Committee notes that the main investment areas under the R-SNDP are skills development, science and technology, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, energy and infrastructure development, particularly transport infrastructure, and the enhancement of human development-related sectors, such as water and sanitation, education and health. The Government further reports on the adoption of the Seventh National Development Plan (2017–21) (7NDP), which departs from sector-based planning and takes an integrated, multi-sectoral development approach, calling for interventions to be taken simultaneously through a coordinated approach. The key elements of the 7NDP are: diversify and make economic growth inclusive; reduce poverty and vulnerability; reduce developmental inequalities; enhance human development; and create a conducive governance environment for a diversified and inclusive economy. Pursuant to the 7NDP, the Government undertakes to accelerate economic diversification and growth. According to Chapter 3 of the 7NDP, this will be achieved through: diversified and export-oriented agriculture and mining sectors; a diversified tourism sector; improved energy production and distribution; an improved transport system and infrastructure; enhanced information, communication and technology; enhanced decent job opportunities; and enhanced research and development. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government on progress achieved during the reporting period. The percentage of the population living below the poverty line declined from 68 per cent in 2006 to 54 per cent in 2015; however, significant disparities between urban and rural areas persisted. In rural areas, the percentage of the population living in poverty fell only marginally, from 80.3 per cent in 2006 to 76.6 per cent in 2015, whereas in urban areas the percentage of people living in poverty declined significantly, from 53 per cent in 2006 to 23.4 per cent in 2015. The Committee notes that, according to the R-SNDP, the majority of Zambia’s population lives in rural areas, and poverty continues to be more of a rural phenomenon than an urban one. The Government reports that in 2014, more than 80 per cent of those employed in Zambia were in the informal economy. Moreover, the majority of this group were classified as working poor, characterized by low levels of income, limited or no access to social security or to other core labour standards. In addition, a significant number of the working population was self-employed, primarily in subsistence agriculture or in small-scale and often fragile businesses. With respect to water and sanitation, in urban areas, the percentage of households with access to improved sources of safe drinking water increased from 58 per cent in 2006 to 67.7 percent in 2015. In rural areas, access to safe water sources increased from 42 per cent in 2006 to 51.6 per cent in 2015. As for access to electricity, the overall access rate rose from 22 per cent in 2010 to 31 percent in 2015. There were significant disparities, however, with access to electricity increasing in urban areas from 53 per cent to 67.3 per cent, compared to a decrease in rural areas, where access rates fell 5 per cent to 4.4 per cent between 2010 and 2015. The Committee further notes that, according to the R-SNDP, there are huge disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of service delivery, which undermines the capacity of the rural population to contribute to growth. The Government reports that, during the reporting period, it implemented a number of social protection measures targeting extremely poor and vulnerable households, to improve their well-being and livelihoods. These included the social cash transfer scheme, which reached a total of 242,000 households in 78 districts and reduced the percentage of households having only one meal a day from 56.6 per cent in 2011 to 35.2 per cent in 2012. Other measures included the school feeding programme, which increased its support to 850,000 learners from 310,451. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government concerning the decline in maternal mortality from 591 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2007 to 398 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013–14. The Government nevertheless indicates that levels of malnutrition have hardly changed, with stunting, wasting and underweight registering 40 per cent, six per cent and 15 per cent in 2013–14. The Government reports that it has continued to scale up provision of high impact services, with a particular focus on maternal and child health. It has taken a number of measures to improve access to health, including a project to construct 650 health posts in 2014, with 335 superstructures completed countrywide, of which 275 fully functional facilities were handed over to the Ministry of Health. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, despite the advancements made, mortality rates remain high. The Government attributes this situation to, among other factors, poor health-seeking behaviour, poor water and sanitation, poor nutrition and inadequate provision of health services. Moreover, the country had a high burden of disease, primarily characterized by high prevalence and impact of communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. In this respect, the Government reported that the national HIV prevalence rate declined only slightly, from 14.3 per cent in 2007 to 13.3 per cent in 2013–14. The number of people with advanced HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment increased, but fell short of the 95 per cent target. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information on the nature and outcome of specific measures taken to improve living conditions in both rural and urban areas, including measures to promote inclusive growth and create opportunities for decent employment and reduce poverty, as envisaged in the Seventh National Development Plan. The Committee further requests the Government to transmit updated detailed information, including statistical data disaggregated by age, sex and region, relating to the impact of the Seventh National Development Plan (2017–21) and other plans and programmes adopted with a view to promoting inclusive economic development , improving the national standard of living and reducing poverty (Article 2 of the Convention). The Committee also invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of measures taken to reduce the incidence of HIV and AIDS, and to increase access to antiretroviral medications and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Part III. Migrant workers. The Government reports that there is currently no national policy concerning migrant workers and data on migration is limited. The Committee notes that the Government has therefore requested the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen its capacity to collect, analyse and use migration data and ultimately prepare a Migration Profile for improved planning and policymaking in this area. It adds that IOM Zambia has been providing assistance to this end since January 2017. The Government indicates that migrant workers, who are formally registered in the country are protected on an equal basis with Zambian nationals by various national laws and regulations, which are not discriminatory. The Government also refers to the recommendations of the IOM Briefing Note on HIV and Labour Migration which envisage the inclusion of migrant workers in all national and sectoral plans, programmes and strategies to address HIV and AIDS and health issues. The Committee invites the Government to provide updates on the progress of the implementations of those recommendations, as well as more detailed information on the impact of the policies and programmes adopted on improving the terms and conditions of employment of both internal and international migrants. They will include the description of the reasonable steps taken: (i) to ensure that their living and working conditions are healthy (Article 6); and (ii) to encourage the transfer of part of the workers’ wages and savings from the area of labour utilization to the area of labour supply (Article 7).

Part VI. Education and vocational training. In respect to general education, the Committee notes that, between 2005 and 2015, 14,235 classrooms were constructed at the primary education level, 4,690 at the secondary education level, and 39,079 teachers were recruited at an average annual total of 5,000 teachers. With regard to the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) system, the Committee also notes the detailed information provided by the Government. Achievements during the reporting period included an increase in TEVET enrolments from 32,911 in 2010 to 37,798 in 2015. New trades training institutes were constructed to increase access and are expected to contribute to meeting the target of 50,000 enrolments under the 7NDP. To improve the quality and relevance of training, the Government partnered with the African Development Bank and the Chinese Government to upgrade lecturer qualifications, rehabilitate infrastructure, review curricula and equip 31 TEVET institutions. The Government also refers to the construction of Kapasa Makasa University, and the establishment of three additional public universities, namely Chalimbana, Kwame Nkrumah and Mukuba Universities. The Government indicates that total student enrolment in the public universities increased from 7,933 in 2008 to 59,272 in 2015. It also indicates the major impact of the new curriculum on education, vocational training and apprenticeship, which has led to an increase in new skills needed in the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information, including statistical data, disaggregated by age, sex and region, on the impact of its new education curriculum on education, vocational training and apprenticeship, as part of social policy in line with Articles 15 and 16 of the Convention.