Download Zimbabwe - School of Liberal Arts

Zimbabwe
International Labour Organization
Youth Unemployment
Sophia Paliza and Fatimah Hameed
Carmel High School
In global markets, the problem of youth unemployment is inseparable from the overall
problem of unemployment. Youth employment policy is key in developing a general
strategy for economic growth in Africa, and globally. Currently, more that 50% of the
population is under the age of 25, and 84% of the world’s youth live in developing
countries. The current systems in developing countries will not be able to meet fairly
such a growing labor supply. Thus, youth unemployment is an urgent global issue that
has repercussions in demographic, social, economic, health, and environmental spheres.
In short, youth unemployment will be felt at the individual, familial, national and global
levels if not addressed.
Zimbabwe is plagued with a decline of 44.4% overall in the economy resulting in
poverty wages, an increase in unemployment, and almost worthless currency. Those
most seriously affected by unemployment are those who mostly make up that group: the
youth in Zimbabwe, the very people who could trigger economic growth. In a nation
where the poor are already in starvation, the budget cannot be seriously curbed to
stimulate the economy. It is in Zimbabwe, that such an inflationary environment leaves
more and more youth jobless and therefore prohibits possible rehabilitation that could
come from this underutilized sector. Youth unemployment and general unemployment
threaten social and economic stability, in light of the severe macroeconomic instability
and an inconsistent policy environment.
At the moment, Zimbabwe’s economy is facing tremendous adversity in the form
of hyperinflation at 7,982.1% since September of 2007. Zimbabwe’s inflation reached a
peak at 26,470% just in November of 2007. While the minister of Zimbabwe has
allocated $11.5 trillion to the Youth and Development and Employment Creation Fund,
the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises received only 0.4 percent of the total vote
appropriations for the year. In Zimbabwe’s environment, this attempt leaves the problem
of youth unemployment one unsolved in 2008.
The ILO has taken the task in hand with programs such as Economic Structural
Adjustment Programme (ESAP), the Zimbabwe Programme for Economic and Social
Transformation (ZIMPREST), and the Millennium Economic Recovery Programme
(MERP). However, these policies have not been adequate in slowing the growing rate of
youth unemployment. Factors such as poor sequencing of programs, policy reversals,
and inadequate funding have negated these attempts. The youth have also largely not
been targeted, and the females are left especially neglected. Major actions implemented
by the UN have begun. The National Economic Policy development is creating a longterm geared program that would structure employment activities and ensure youth
participation in productive economic activities including in the informal sector. Also, the
Community Action Plan focuses on creating employment in infrastructure projects,
especially to target rural, unskilled youth workers.
Perhaps what would be best for the economy would be continued promotion of
Career Guidance and Counseling programs. This way, students can learn technical skills
more relatable and independent to the current overcrowded state of the economy and also
understand the demands of the labor market. Entrepreneur education would also further
propagate self-employment for youth. If not replaced by automation, youth often lack
either the proper skills, or the experience necessary in the market. While these programs
are important first steps, emphasis on such programs must also be cautionary, and aid
administered elsewhere. Another excellent idea is the Land Reform Program, which
would specifically target the youth. They should be given a percentage of acquired land
and supported with services such as credit and tillage facility in order to increase
agricultural production. Women should also be given more access to credit, land, and
government support services. Poverty alleviation programs could also be more
community based-in order to target youth better. It is through specified focus on youth
unemployment that social and economic can be achieved in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe
International Labor Organization
Forced Labor
Sophia Paliza and Fatimah Hameed
Carmel High School
A continuous issue, forced labor affects a large portion of people throughout the world.
At ILO’s Convention No. 29, the definition of forced labor was established as “all work
or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for
which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.” According to this definition
there are currently at least 12.3 million people subjected to some form of forced labor, an
estimate considered to be understated. It is difficult to locate exact figures because much
of the labor rings are concealed and unreported. Forced labor is prevalent in much of the
developing world, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, although developed
nations, the United States and those in Europe, are not exempt from the problem either.
Illegal servitude is a socioeconomic issue as it produces approximately US$10 million
every year and displaces and unfairly binds people to poor health and living conditions.
In Zimbabwe, child trafficking, often for sexual exploitation, is a widespread form of
forced labor. Because of the poor economic conditions, with the inflation rate at
26,470% and the GDP real growth rate at -6%, many succumb to any work opportunities
they are offered out of desperation. Bonded labor and indentured servitude are also
commonplace. The concern of forced labor is tightly intertwined with child labor
problems. As 24.6% of Zimbabwe’s adult population is affected by HIV or AIDS, there
is an increased number of households headed by children in need of employment to
augment their family income.
The government of Zimbabwe has taken the step, under the Sexual Offenses Act, to
prohibit trafficking: the maximum fine for doing so is Z$35,000 (US$6.00) and up to
seven years of prison for prostituting children under the age of twelve. The Labor Act
has set employment laws in order to combat forced labor as well. Although these are
important advances Zimbabwe has made, the global effort can be greatly increased. In
2001, the ILO created the Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labor, which is
working to address forced labor and its causes, with the forum in Vienna from 13 to 15
February 2008. Its goal is to eliminate forced labor by 2015. Also, It launched an
initiative against trafficking in cooperation with the UNDP in July 2007. International
organizations, specifically the UN, should put more pressure on governments to take
further action to trace forced labor and should provide assistance for rehabilitation of
victims. Forced labor is an issue of human rights that needs to be properly and
vigorously addressed by the international community.