By Own Correspondent

THE just reviewed Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Young Workers Policy now awaits rigorous validation before getting the General Council’s nod.

Speaking to The Worker this week, ZCTU national organizer, Michael Kandukutu  under whose purview falls the Young Workers structure, said the just completed exercise now awaits two procedures.

“We seek to have a validation workshop with the ZCTU Young Workers Council, then subject the same validated policy to the ZCTU General Council for noting and adoption,” he said.

Kandukutu said the reviewed young workers policy highlights the current challenges facing young workers today such as under employment, the 4th industrial revolution, exclusion from the Labour market, the COVID 19 situation, disasters and climate change.

“It also seeks to assist the young workers with policy intervention strategies on issues that affect and apply to young workers. As the ZCTU we seek for effective participation by young workers in trade union issues, programs and activities,” he said.

He said in that regard, the policy will systematically integrate young workers into all policies, plans, programs and strategies of the union at all levels which  will aid in ensuring that the trade remains and becomes attractive to the workers at all ages.

The national organizer said the Youth Policy was last updated in 2011 prompting the current reviews to take into consideration the dynamics prevailing in the current Labour market environment.

A UNFPA 2015 study shows that Zimbabwe is currently enjoying a lucrative demographic dividend which is defined as the social and economic benefit that can arise when a country has a relatively large proportion of working-age population driven by declining fertility and mortality.

The report revealed that Zimbabwe’s age-sex population structure is projected to change in the next two decades, with the share of working age population set to rise from 55% in 2012 to 64% by 2032 after entering the window in 2004 amid expectations that it will continue until 2060.