Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) joins the world in celebrating the World Day of Decent Work.
At a time when income inequalities have risen drastically, on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is of utmost importance that world governments play a role in ensuring that decent work must play front and centre role in restoring economic growth.
Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment, however increasing levels of informality have mitigated against this lofty ideal.
We are heartened that government, through the Formalisation strategy they are currently rolling out in partnership with development partners has seen it fit to try and address the challenges afflicting the informal sector that include lack of access to modern infrastructure, unregulated working conditions, lack of social protection, medical aid, pensions and access to capital.
With the national statistical agency Zimstats announcing in August that as much as 88 percent of people are earning a living through the informal economy, it is incumbent that policy makers make concerted efforts to cater for this majority in resource allocation processes such as budget formulation.
It is indeed a travesty that a sector that contributes over 48 percent of GDP does not have a seat at the table of social dialogue processes such as the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF). Even a cursory look at the country’s key economic blueprint the National Development Strategy (NDS1) will show the negligent attention paid to the sector.
Sustainable Development Goal 8 states the need to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full productive employment and decent work for all and this surely cannot be achieved if over 88 percent of the majority is excluded in resource allocation.
VISET will strive to ensure no stone is left unturned in the fight to ensure decent work is availed to all and it is in this vein that we continue engaging on the Formalisation process and indeed any other platform that seeks to address the inequalities between the formal and informal sectors and indeed the income inequalities of all classes.
