By Own Correspondent

GOVERNMENT has unveiled a retrenched employment program which will reskill those exiting their jobs and avail grants to promote better opportunities.

With a lax labour regulatory framework which has seen companies retrenching at will in Zimbabwe, thousands of workers in the country have continued to untimely lose their jobs , forcing many into joblessness induced abject poverty.

But addressing delegates at a conference recently, Senior Employment Officer in the Labour Ministry Vimbai Chiza unveiled the government's plans to curb the scourge.

“We are creating a register where we will compile retrenched details so that we assist them with employment promotion initiatives. As the department of employment our thrust and mandate is for the promotion of full productive employment.

“So we are partnering with other United Nations Organisations to come with projects that will assist the retrenches in order for them to have a sustainable livelihood,” she said.

Chiza said through the initiative, the government would also like to provide training for the retrenched reskilling considering the new changes we have as a result of Covid19 pandemic.

“You may be aware that jobs have changed and there is a need for reskilling. We also have together with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education under the Green Enterprize project. The development of the new curriculum in line with green jobs are some of the areas that we are currently tapping into and providing for the retrenches,” added Chiza.

However, labour market watchers have castigated the initiative, describing it as too ambitious and unachievable as it falls short of making any impact in a nation where more than 90 % of workers are employed in the informal sector.