Thirty seven people with disabilities get government jobs

29 Oct, 2024 - 08:10 0 Views
Thirty seven people with disabilities get government jobs Minister July Moyo

The Public Service has employed 37 persons with disabilities this year in line with the ruling ZANU (PF) directives, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo has said.

During the 20th ZANU (PF) National People’s Conference in Gweru in 2023, the ruling party resolved that the government promote and provide public infrastructure facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities.

The government was also ordered to develop specific programmes that accommodate people with disabilities into the mainstream of the economy and in the public as well as private sectors.

In a report to the 21st ZANU (PF) National People’s Conference in Bulawayo on the state of social services and poverty eradication, Moyo said the 37 persons were employed after government developed and implemented guidelines for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public service.

Also 3 698 civil servants were recruited at provincial and district levels in line with the resolution for the government to decentralise the recruitment of civil servants to provinces and districts starting in January this year.

As the government continues to prioritise the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities, Moyo said 5 340 persons with disabilities received rights-based services including assistive devices, vocational training and loans. This is in line with the National Disability Policy (2021, the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and the Disabled Persons Act.

“As a country, we are also promoting inclusivity and hence encouraging employers to embrace persons with disabilities, thereby contributing to SDGs 8 on decent work and economic growth and SDG 10 on reduced inequalities,” said Moyo.

“Disability programming seeks to enhance the wellbeing of persons with disabilities and their families, in line with the provisions of the National Disability Policy. The Persons with Disabilities Bill which seeks to repeal the outdated Disabled Persons Act (Chapter 17:01) is now before Parliament for consideration.”

Mining, manufacturing, agriculture and construction were the major contributors to employment creation, according to the ZIMSTAT quarter four and quarter 1 Labour Force Survey for 2023 and 2024 respectively.

“Commendable progress has been made in the generation of employment opportunities in the economy as evidenced by employment opportunities in the economy as evidenced by employment statistics obtained from the National Social Security (NSSA). A total of 84 239 workers have been employed since the beginning of 2024,” said Moyo.

The top six sectors with the highest employee registration are wood, wood products with 11 828 (14 percent), agriculture 11 215 (13 percent), commerce distribution 10 865 (13 percent), services 9 606 (11Percent), local authorities 7 682 (9 percent) and mining quarrying with 5 180 registrations translating to 6 percent.

Moyo said the Second Republic is determined to enhance and guarantee good working conditions to its esteemed workers in line with the Vision 2030’s Upper Middle Income per capita thresholds.

“In this endeavour, the government has tremendously improved public service earnings to the current minimum of US$364. This current minimum offered by the government is well above the latest World Poverty Datum Line of US$2,15 per person per day (translating to US$323 for a family of 5 per month),” he said.

“On the other hand, the private sector is paying an average basic salary of US$265 showing that the government is setting pace in determining salaries and wages for workers.”

New Ziana

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