LABOUR and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has announced that Government has designed an internship programme for graduates in the country to acquire the much needed experience to enhance their employment ability on the labour market.
Mr Shamenda said the programme would come in effect next year and would be done in collaboration with employers representatives the Zambia Federation of Employers.
Mr Shamenda said this when he presented a policy statement to parliament on his ministry’s budgetary allocation for 2014 as estimated expenditure in the National budget.
‘The internship programme has been designed to help fresh graduates acquire the much needed experience to enhance their employment ability, “he said.
He said the ministry would also review the national employment and labour market policy which had not been revised since its launch in 2005 and the exercise would be completed the end of March 2014.
He said the ministry would also continue with the date collection processing, storage and dissemination to ensure timely availability of labour statistics for decision making.
He said the ministry also successfully conducted the 2012 labour force survey and the report was released in November last month and would next year conduct the similar exercise.
“In addition to survey we also conduct the skills survey to take stock of the skills being produced and demanded with the view in address skills mismatch on the labour market.
He said the ministry would continue to re-establish the employment exchange services and this would cover all provincial centres and some districts.
On Capapcity building the minister said his ministry had put in place measures to increase in manpower that would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the ministry in labour laws.
He said the ministry would also enhance dialogue among stakeholders by holding the tripartite consultative labour council in 2014.
“ In 2014 my ministry will be committee in holding tripartite labour council meetings and accommodated more stakeholders beside the traditional social partners.
He said the ministry would also undertake to promote social dialogue within companies that is between employers and employees representative.
And United Party of National Development (UPND) Monze Central MP Jack Mwiimbu advised the Patriotic Front Government to continue speaking for the plight of the employees in the country as they used to do when they were in opposition.
Mr Mwiimbu said it was sad that the PF had stopped speaking on the abuse of the Zambian employees especially by Chinese employers.
We have now become houseboy and maids who can not say anything???? anyway my houseboy has worked with me for several years because we at him as part of the family.
Unlikely, our govt who do not see the value for individuals. No wonder someone can be killed and his body stolen and buried secretely.
what exactly are trying to say in relation to the initiative by the Government
it sucks i am now really really confused isnt there a moratarium on employment?
@ Italian presidential whatever
the government has introduced something which i personally think is a good idea, and you just comment nonsense.
Why do we even have Politicians?
Good move in the right direction. People lets see through the advantages of this venture into the future, to me it looks bright if followed smoothly,keeping my fingers crossed!
yes good move ,also we need internship in marriages, thus why people like chiluba, caristo chitamfa fail to keep a woman.
This is the right way to go. On this one PF thumbs up. I must also mention that time for cheating people or making good pronouncement and not implementing them is long Gone, at this point we will say bravo….the idea is perfect but let us please implement this program next year and Zambia will never be the same again.
I will not sing any praise until I see it happening. Towards September 2011, I sang a lot of praises and never saw any results! So now I am careful with praises for these people.
Ukulaya bapena
I thought Internship programs already exist in institutions. I did one some years back in a govt institution. This labour Minister is merely gaining political mileage.
Not all programmes had intainship programs. E.g Physiotherapy had no intainship
Shamenda u are a f00l!
@omeka
grow up! your comment is really childish. to bad we still have people like you! its a shame!!!!!!!!!
Could this possibly be a more profitable National Service Programme than that of the 80’s? If so, the participants will gain experience while the government will gain manpower and companies concerned will gain manpower.
Could this also possibly reduce bu ‘John solye ubwali’?
Good move but you must implement it guys.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
From an economist point of view, its a great move once implemented. labour is a perishable material. once you lose time in the “john solye ubwali” you can never retain it. this move will also kill many birds with one stone. i.e it will reduce the number of unemployed labour, value addition to the graduates who may latter be retained by the respective companies if they impress, it will enhance networking and career development. we expect our GDP to grow as more people will be involve in productive activities. improved quality of goods and services as their will be an inflow of new great ideas and it will reduce vices brought about by idleness such as drug abuse, illicit sex, crime etc. its a done deal!
Hoping this has been implementd because am just applying for internship positions right now. Its really difficult to find internship positions in zambia and with that we as graduates lack experience. N stupid enouf companies request for 3-5yrs experience n with lack of experience graduates are evn scared of applyin for jobs. Carl u have spoken lik my dad.its a good initiative.