SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour Meeting Commences in Victoria Falls

Online Reporter
THE meeting of SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour and Social Partners has commenced in Victoria Falls, with calls for the region to develop policies that formalise the informal sector to achieve sustainable development.
The week-long meeting opened this morning with the Senior Officials Meeting of SADC, officiated by the Permanent Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Simon Masanga, who is the Chair of the SADC Employment and Labour Sector Senior Officials.
Officiating at the meeting, Mr Masanga said that the region faces numerous challenges, including high levels of informal employment, limited access to decent work, and a skills gap that hinders productivity. He emphasised that employment remains at the core of sustainable development and industrialisation in the region.

“As we meet under the theme of the 44th SADC Summit: ‘Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC,’ it is important that we reflect on how employment and labour can contribute to this vision. Informal employment, which accounts for a significant share of economic activity in many SADC member states, presents both opportunities and challenges.
“On the one hand, it provides livelihoods for millions, and on the other, it often lacks social protection, fair wages, and adequate working conditions. It is imperative that we work towards the formalisation of the informal economy, which, according to the International Labour Organisation, is around 58.8 percent in Africa.

“Addressing informality through appropriate policies and strategies is essential for promoting decent work, reducing poverty, and achieving sustainable development. In addition, the integration of small to medium enterprises into the formal economy is particularly important, given their role as engines of job creation and innovation in our region,” said Mr Masanga.
He highlighted that, in light of these challenges, the meeting is not merely a formality but a critical platform to collectively strategise and find solutions.
Mr Masanga stressed the need to create an environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable job creation.
The meeting continues with closed-door discussions, culminating in the Ministerial session on Thursday.