Government leads by example in promoting inclusive employment

Mkhululi Ncube

GOVERNMENT is leading by example in promoting inclusive employment through giving equal opportunities to people with disability, the youth and women who are usually sidelined.

During the two-day Public Service Commission (PSC) job fair that ended in Bulawayo on Thursday at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, hundreds of qualified graduates submitted their qualifications to be considered for employment in public service.

A desk dedicated to qualified graduates with disability was created so that they are given undivided attention and all their needs met. PSC general manager-talent management, Mrs Grace Machakaire, said their system was designed to make registration more-friendly even for people with disability.

“We are very sensitive to inclusivity issues hence you saw the desk dedicated to people with disability by the entrance of the hall,” she said.

“Our registration system produces the profile and will state the kind of disability one has. It even aggregates the gender so that we know their sex.”

Mrs Machakarie said each time they recruit they are bound by the country’s Constitution to give 15 percent quota to people with disability and have given Government ministries guidelines to follow to satisfy the inclusivity obligation.

She said during the fair they attended to 10 people with various forms of disability.

PSC Commissioner, Professor Carrol Themba Khombe, said it was a deliberate Government decision to employ people with disabilities and those previously marginalised.

“The issues of disabilities are important in the sense that it is a deliberate move by the Government to employ them. There is a requirement to accommodate them in the work environment and providing the necessary support and equipment they need to use in the work process,” he said

“When you look at it terms of economic lens you may think that is expensive but it is a deliberate intention by Government to be inclusive and leave no one behind.

“We are prepared and determined to accommodate them and provide all the necessary means they need for them to work in a public environment,” said Prof Khombe.

Mrs Machakaire said there were numerous benefits of working for the Government including job security and favourable remuneration.

“Government offers security of tenure and offers opportunities for career development, which are not available in the private sector.

“We have a policy dealing with manpower development leave, which gives you time off to study while your fees is paid by Government through a training loan,” he said.

“For those with families, the PSC offers you an opportunity to work close to your family or even coming from your home, which is not the case with some jobs in the private sector.

“We also have secondment opportunities through international organisations like Sadc and the African Union. You can be employed by these organisations for a certain period and gain the experience, which you will use when you return to Government.”

Mrs Machakaire said new graduates must get a feel of how the public service works as it gives them a grounding experience and how the economy works, which is handy when one chooses to go to the private sector. – @themkhust.