Embrace formalisation: informal sector told
Embrace formalisation: informal sector told
Mabel Khumalo
BULAWAYO-Informal traders have been urged to embrace formalisation as per International Labour Organization’s recommendation.
The issue came to light at a convention hosted by Bulawayo Vendors and Tradors Association (BVTA) in partnership with Vendors Intitiative for Social and Economic Transformation Union of Informal Tradors (VISET) and Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), held at Cresta Churchill hotel in Bulawayo last week.
The main agenda of the meeting was to deliberate on the ILO recommendation 204 as well as to facilitate dialogue among informal sector stakeholders on the importance of the transition from the informal to the formal economy.
According to Social and Economics Justice Ambassador Thando Gwinji, employees in the informal sector are not protected by the law. This makes them vulnerable and subject to a number of social injustices such as unreasonably long work hours, depression and poor work environment. “Formalising the informal sector will compel informal traders to comply with labour laws.” she said.
The monitoring and evaluation officer for VICET, Edward Kapodogo said informal traders are faced with a number of challenges that include infrastructure challenges, lack of social security support and hoarding of selling bays by land barons. During his presentation he asserted that these challenges can only be effectively tackled once the informal trading sector is formalised.
Shelton Sithole, a town planner from the Bulawayo City Council, assured stakeholders that the local authority is more than prepared to meet with various stakeholders to set up a platform to formalise the informal sector.
” Early next year, we are going to be reviewing the informal traders’ policy,” he added.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Director of BVTA, Michael Ndiweni suggested that for the formalisation process to be successful there is need to have a clear implementation plan as well as set time lines. He also urged informal traders and stakeholders not to rely on donor funds but to devise innovative ways to finance the formalization strategies as he warned that waiting for local authorities, the government and donors could significantly delay the process.
