By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
UN Resident coordinator Ms Maria Ribeiro said Covid-19 pandemic highlighted that persons with disabilities and migrants are among the most affected groups in times of crisis.
Speaking at the launch of the National Labour Migration Policy and Disability Policy Wednesday, Ms Ribeiro said the two policies came at a time when the world was grappling with COVID-19.
“Migrant workers including Zimbabweans who were working in neighboring countries and further afield were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to their status as frontline workers.
“In other cases, they were among the first to be retrenched due to their economic status as migrants,” she said.
“To address vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, the UN believes that the implementation of these policies will increase inclusiveness, stronger coordination, and accountability to persons with disability and migrants.
“The policies have the potential to not only to enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities and the dignity of migrants, but also ensure their productive participation in national development priorities.”
She said the partnership and joint work among UN Agencies, Government and civil society organizations that had already been established under the UN Migration Network would be further strengthened because of the labour migration policy.
The policy on disabilities, will bolster the ongoing UN, Government, persons with disabilities, Civil Society and media organizations.
Ms Ribeiro said the UN stands ready to work with Government and other stakeholders to support the robust implementation of the two Policies, including strengthened coordination of key sectors to advance the rights of all persons with disabilities and migrants.
The UN supported training of 73 persons with disabilities from the two umbrella bodies, the Federation of Organizations of Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe and National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped.
She said the National Disability Policy was an important milestone towards the implementation of the UN Convention.
It also positions Zimbabwe as a global frontrunner on disability inclusion and 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ms Ribeiro hoped that the labour policy and its implementation would allow labour migrants who choose Zimbabwe as their destination to contribute to its economy, social and cultural heritage.
“Full implementation of the policy will fortify Zimbabwe’s ambitions to deepen free trade among African countries and globally. It will also help to accelerate Zimbabwe’s human development dividends of labour migration,” she said.
She said over 180,000 Zimbabweans engaged in migrant labour have returned home with the assistance of IOM since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The other equally important policy that is being launched this morning is the Labour Migration Policy to improve Zimbabwe’s governance of labour migration and implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
“The policy is forward-looking and rights-based and aims to foster the empowerment of migrant workers, while ensuring that migration contributes to Zimbabwe’s socioeconomic development,” she said.
She said Governed migration has become a policy priority for the migration governance and development strategies of many governments worldwide.
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