By Own Correspondent

A recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) stakeholder consultative workshop  reviewing preliminary results of a rapid market systems analysis of the Zimbabwe Construction Sector has revealed huge gaps .

The sector analysis found that MSMEs in the sector face challenges relating to formalization, productivity, and accessing markets, due in part to limited access to information, financial services, and limited skills.

“Consequently, MSMEs, and to an extent larger enterprises, struggle to provide decent working conditions to workers in the sector. Most workers in the sector, particularly those who are informally recruited, experience job insecurity, high occupational hazards, and limited access to social protection.

“In addition, limited technical skills and recognition of informally acquired skills and competencies limit the workers’ ability to secure higher-paying and more decent working opportunities,” said ILO in an update.



The analysis found that women in the sector who comprise 2,5% of the sector’s workforce experience structural challenges to entering the sector and securing decent jobs.

Pre-defined gender roles and norms, discourage women from working in the construction sector whose occupations are deemed largely as a male occupation.

The analysis further established that women in the sector are more likely to experience violence and harassment in the course of duty.

“For employers, providing basic infrastructure such as separate ablution facilities and accounting for maternity leave and antenatal care leave are considered additional costs which discourage them from hiring women, particularly younger women.

“Better participation was noted for women working in the professional categories of engineering, architecture, quantity surveying and in office-based positions such as administration, financial management and human resource management,” reads the analysis in part.



Despite these challenges, there are opportunities to make systemic improvements in the sector that can benefit both workers and enterprises.

These include expanding access to social protection, improving business management competencies, as well as strengthening and access skills development and certification for workers.