Zim Hosts 2 Key SADC Meetings
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is hosting two key SADC meetings in Victoria Falls starting today, bringing together ministers, social partners, and trade experts to tackle pressing regional issues. The SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour and Social Partners meeting, and the SADC Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Co-operation Structures meetings, will run until Friday. The programme shows that the SADC Ministers of Employment and Labour and Social Partners meeting will focus on critical labour and employment concerns, including unemployment, decent work, social protection, and labour rights. It will be preceded by a meeting of Senior Officials responsible for employment and labour, who will be preparing documents for the ministerial meeting from today till Wednesday. In a communique, the SADC Secretariat said: “The ministers will discuss various employment and labour-related issues of importance to the SADC region.” Last year’s meeting, held in Angola, noted that since adoption at the Summit in 2023, the SADC Protocol on Employment and Labour had been signed by the Republics of Angola and Malawi and the Kingdom of Eswatini. They committed to undertake national consultations with a view to sign and ratify the Protocol during the period up to 2025, noting that the instrument will go a long way in promoting decent work, underpinned by inclusive and productive employment, respect for rights at work, enhanced social security and strong labour market institutions. The SADC Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Co-operation Structures meetings aim to eliminate trade barriers and harmonise standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures among member States. ReadMore