ED launches labour migration, disability policies

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PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday bemoaned the plight of migrant workers and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic which has ushered in a “new normal” to the world.

BY VANESSA GONYE

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday bemoaned the plight of migrant workers and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic which has ushered in a “new normal” to the world.

He told delegates during the joint launch of the national labour migration policy and the disability policy in Harare yesterday.

Mnangagwa said labour and disability activists had been calling for alignment of laws with the Constitution.

“A multi-sectoral approach is essential for the achievement of the objectives set out in these two policies. This is more so, as COVID-19 has heightened the need for shared responsibility to protect the rights of citizens, including persons with disabilities and migrant workers,” Mnangagwa said.

He called for an end to harmful practices, discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion of PWDs from participating in different sectors of the economy, adding that government departments should mainstream disability issues in their programmes.

On the national labour migration policy, he said:  “In our case, a considerable number of Zimbabweans live and work in the diaspora. The launch of this policy is, therefore, opportune.”

United Nations resident co-ordinator Maria Ribeiro said the launch of the two policies would reduce inequalities.

“We continue encouraging the scaling of disability-inclusive budgeting by government.

“The labour migration policy is forward-looking and rights-based and aims to foster the empowerment of migrant workers, while ensuring that migration contributes to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development,” Ribeiro said.

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