Her Excellency, Dr. Joyce Banda, the Malawian President has appreciated the support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) which has enabled Malawi to develop the Decent Work Country Programme to challenge jobless growth, CEOAFRICA News desk gathered.
Speaking at the 102nd Session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, the Malawi President said that the decent work agenda is an integral part of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II2011-2016 and the Economic Recovery Programme.
Dr. Banda further said that the ILO had also helped Malawi to develop the Employment Policy to guide job creation initiatives as well as the piloting of the G20 education and skills for employability projects, CEOAFRICA reports.
In a statement released from the State House, Dr. Banda noted that launching of the Youth Job Creation Initiative aimed at building skills for youth and creating employment opportunities for them, is part of the economic recovery process.
Furthermore, the statement stated that the decent work agenda had also given Malawi the impetus to take a critical look at the country’s social security system; hence the enactment of Pension Act which makes it mandatory for employers to put their workers on pension. Also, the statement said improving the rural sector had the potential to greatly reduce poverty considering that over 80% of Malawi’s population lives in rural areas and relies on agriculture.
Her Excellency said, ”One major focus of the Government is to improve the livelihood of the rural population through a business approach to agriculture by taking the sector as one with potential to generate jobs and wealth for many Malawians,” CEOAFRICA reports.
