Zimbabwe set to appear before ILO for failing to ratify the statute which prohibits forced labour

Zimbabwe is among the countries that is set to appear before the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on allegations of failing to ratify Convention 105 which prohibits forced labour.

Zimbabwe is number 40 on the list. Convention 105 urges State Parties to work towards eliminating forced labour by enacting domestic laws that prohibit forced labour which according to the Convention refers to situations in which persons are coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation or by more subtle means such as accumulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities.

Speaking to NewsDay, Labour and Social Welfare minister Priscah Mupfumira said she was not aware that Zimbabwe was on the ILO agenda for the international conference, but said that government is in the process of ratifying Convention 105 and said that there were no cases of forced labour in Zimbabwe. Other SADC countries that are set to appear before ILO are Zambia and Botswana.