The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has commended Zimbabwe for taking decisive action to advance ethical recruitment in labour migration through the development and adoption of the National Labour Migration Policy which offers coherent strategies for addressing labour mobility issues.
President Mnangagwa officially launched the Labour Migration Policy in June last year.
The policy’s main thrust is to improve the governance of labour migration, as well as protection and empowerment of migrant workers.
It also seeks to ensure that migration contributes to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development.
Speaking during a Ethical Recruitment Training workshop in Mutare early this week, IOM’s Zimbabwe Chief of Missions, Mr Mario Lito Malanca said: “I am delighted to note that Zimbabwe has joined the Global Policy Network on Promoting Ethical Recruitment which aims to enhance greater multi-stakeholder co-creation and collaboration in ensuring that recruitment is effectively regulated while ensuring the benefits for stakeholders.
“The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration calls for member states through its Objective Six to facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work.
“These commitments have been enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals which urged United Nations member states to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and to promote labour rights and safe and secure working environments of all workers, including migrant workers, particularly female migrants and those in precarious employment.”
The workshop which was attended by Government officials, representatives of trade unions, private employment agencies and employers’ organisations is part of a project that recognises that the National Labour Migration Policy affords an opportunity for Government to work with the various stakeholders in the regulation, implementation, and monitoring of recruitment processes.
The project seeks to promote and facilitate ethical and transparent recruitment practices in line with international labour standards.
Mr Malanca said given the growing importance of international migration and its contribution to economic development, well-governed migration brings profound benefits to both receiving and sending countries.
“Receiving countries get productive workers to fill key gaps in the labour market and help their demographic profiles, while sending countries receive billions of dollars in remittances from their overseas workers, attract investment from affluent members of the Diaspora and leverage the benefits of circular migration when returning emigrants bring back their skills, expertise, contacts and personal wealth,” said Mr Malanca.
He added: “Poorly managed migration can lead to harm, danger and insecurity. It can encourage migrant smuggling and human trafficking, as well as social unrest, xenophobia and discrimination.
“It can also create missed opportunities when receiving and sending countries are blocked from harnessing the development gains available through mobility.”
He said cross-border recruitment is a vital part of facilitating international labour mobility.
“When implemented in a fair and transparent manner, cross-border recruitment contributes to safe and orderly labour migration which benefits countries of origin and destination, employers and migrants. However, when international standards are not adhered to, the risks to migrant workers can be severe.
“In low-paid, precarious sectors of the economy such as agriculture, domestic work, construction and manufacturing, abuses faced by migrant workers are common. These include deception about the nature and conditions of work, confiscation of passports, illegal wage deductions, debt bondage linked to inflated recruitment fees, threats and physical violence,” said Mr Malanca.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Clifford Matorera, Permanent Secretary, Mr Simon Masanga said Government’s priority is to protect jobseekers, particularly migrant workers, from the unscrupulous activities of recruiters.
This, he said, can be achieved through developing a robust national plan of action and the development of standard operating procedures for ethical recruitment for both public and private employment agencies.
“It is key for Government to underline the importance of strengthening legal migration pathways to enhance the positive contribution of migration to the development of the country.
“Migration for employment has been identified as possessing potential development opportunities for both countries of origin and destination. The key benefits of labour migration for countries of origin, if properly managed, include the impact of remittances on poverty reduction, creation of foreign currency reserves and support for balance of payments, knowledge and skills transfer when migrants return home on a temporary or permanent basis, among others,” said Mr Masanga.
