News / National
2,2 million jobs not a dream - Minister Mupfumira
03 May 2015 at 09:49hrs | Views
Labour and Social Welfare Minister Priscilla Mupfumira is adamant that the Zunu PF led Government goal of creating two million jobs is possible amid massive retirement and company closures.
About 4 000 Zimbabwean workers were retrenched in 2014, a 40 percent increase in retrenchment figures compared to 2013, as the economy continues to nosedive leading to more companies closing shop, the central bank said.
According to retrenchment statistics compiled by the Retrenchment Board, 3 881 workers lost their jobs compared to the 2 376 recorded in 2013.
Under the controversial Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation government intends to create 2,2 million jobs by 2018.
Mupfumira said government was on the right track and insisted the country's unemployment rate was 11 percent, contrary to long-held assumptions that 80 percent of working age Zimbabweans were jobless.
"Government is making headway in reducing unemployment. We are confident that our target of creating two million jobs can be achieved.
"When we speak of two million jobs, we are not referring to the traditional way of working at a factory or in the office, but we are looking at the enabling environment created to enable people to earn a living," she said.
She said government was regularising the informal sector, which is driving the country's economy.
"The informal sector plays a significant role in employment creation. Statistics today show that in Zimbabwe there are more people employed in the informal sector. However, we do not know the exact number of people employed in such sectors because the figures keep increasing every day," she said.
"When you look at the land reform, you will realise that hundreds of thousands of jobs were created. So Government is not stopping on that front.
"This is why the mining sector, the small and medium scale sectors are going to grow in line with government's plans to create more jobs."
About 4 000 Zimbabwean workers were retrenched in 2014, a 40 percent increase in retrenchment figures compared to 2013, as the economy continues to nosedive leading to more companies closing shop, the central bank said.
According to retrenchment statistics compiled by the Retrenchment Board, 3 881 workers lost their jobs compared to the 2 376 recorded in 2013.
Under the controversial Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation government intends to create 2,2 million jobs by 2018.
Mupfumira said government was on the right track and insisted the country's unemployment rate was 11 percent, contrary to long-held assumptions that 80 percent of working age Zimbabweans were jobless.
"Government is making headway in reducing unemployment. We are confident that our target of creating two million jobs can be achieved.
"When we speak of two million jobs, we are not referring to the traditional way of working at a factory or in the office, but we are looking at the enabling environment created to enable people to earn a living," she said.
She said government was regularising the informal sector, which is driving the country's economy.
"The informal sector plays a significant role in employment creation. Statistics today show that in Zimbabwe there are more people employed in the informal sector. However, we do not know the exact number of people employed in such sectors because the figures keep increasing every day," she said.
"When you look at the land reform, you will realise that hundreds of thousands of jobs were created. So Government is not stopping on that front.
"This is why the mining sector, the small and medium scale sectors are going to grow in line with government's plans to create more jobs."
Source - Byo24News
