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Theseus Shambare
CLOSE to 50 employment agencies have been vetted and registered by the Government to streamline the industry and ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.
This is part of a broader Government initiative to curb the activities of rogue employment agencies and protect citizens and job seekers from human trafficking, abuse and exploitation.
The country, along with other African nations, is grappling with incidents of human trafficking, where individuals are lured by false promises of lucrative jobs and then exploited or abused in foreign countries.
Recent reports indicate that about 40 Zimbabweans are currently stranded in Sierra Leone after falling victim to a human trafficking syndicate built around a local company working with a foreign outfit that lured them to the West African country with promises of lucrative jobs.
Authorities are working flat-out to bring the culprits to book and assist the victims to return home safely.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Simon Masanga outlined the Government’s multifaceted approach to regulating the employment agency industry and protecting job seekers.
“We have 49 registered employment agencies in Zimbabwe and we encourage those seeking services to engage these only.
“To ensure that our citizens are aware of these registered employment agencies, we publish the list of registered employment agencies in mainstream media, especially The Sunday Mail, to ensure that people are aware,” said Mr Masanga.
By registering agencies, she said, the Government can inspect and monitor the activities of private players for fair and ethical recruitment practices.
“Our mandate is to ensure that jobseekers are safeguarded from incidences of human trafficking,” he said.
Mr Masanga said the Government will conduct awareness campaigns to conscientise people on how to get foreign employment safely.
“We are also taking advantage of our Migrant Resource Centres that were officially launched in Bulawayo and Harare to provide information on safe migration within and outside Zimbabwe,” he said.
The Government is also actively enforcing regulations to deter illegal practices.
“We conduct our inspections with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure that those who are not operating within the legal framework are brought to court,” he said.
Public Service Deputy Director for Employment, Ms Vimbai Chiza, said to strengthen the regulatory framework further, the Government has developed standard operating procedures for private employment agencies.
She was speaking on the sidelines of a half-day workshop recently held in Harare with private employment agencies.
These procedures, she said, aim to streamline the recruitment process and minimize the risk of exploitation.
“We have also developed standard operating procedures for private employment agencies to undertake when they are processing job notifications.
By implementing these measures, she said, the Government aims to create a more transparent, accountable and ethical employment sector, safeguarding the rights and well-being of Zimbabwean workers.
Mr Arthur Kangara of Talent Edge Global Placements Pvt Ltd, a private employment agency praised the Government for roping them in.
“We are happy with the step taken by the Government. We were being painted by the same brush in the communities, and yet we operate within the dictates of the law. We want all agencies to be known,” said Mr Kangara.
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