Decent work in construction and the role of local authorities the case of Bulawayo city, Zimbabwe.

The role of local authorities in promoting decent work is little understood and has been absent from both policy and practice (GIAN, 2005). The purpose of this interdisciplinary study was to identify and describe the existing and potential roles of Bulawayo City in fostering decent work in the construction sector, urban development and related services through policy making, strategic planning and project activities. The study outcomes will contribute to the shared knowledge among local authorities and other stakeholders at the local and international levels. Bulawayo is Zimbabwe’s second largest urban settlement with a 2002 population close to 700 000 i.e. 6% of the national population or 20% of the urban population (CSO, 2002:21), a budget of Z$619 million in 1993/94 (Ndubiwa and Hamilton, 1994), Z$2.5 billion in 2000 and Z$797 billion in 20051. The research team collected national and local level secondary data on decent work variables with a view to compile decent work indicators to help compare Bulawayo City against national and global conditions. Such data was sought from the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), employer and worker organisations, construction firms, research institutions and Bulawayo City itself. Key informants in all these institutions were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and grey literature related to decent work was identified and collected where feasible. While Zimbabwe is not ‘statistics poor’, statistics collected from the institutions cited above are not in formats suitable to answer descent work questions. The political-economic crisis in the country and in particular the government’s frosty relations with the UK, the EU the USA and the white Commonwealth (GoZ, 2005: 25c), have compounded conditions of insecurity for most institutions and individuals; making even the release to outsiders of routine administrative information for research purposes a sensitive affair. Increasingly, key informants were not prepared to release information unless there was a direct financial benefit to themselves or their organisations. It is in this context of economic crisis and tense relations that some in the west have expressed doubts regarding the accuracy of employment, economic and population statistics; alleging that these are manipulated to suit the ruling party. Further, high population movements and the ‘informalization’ of the economy since mid 1990s have left significant socio-economic activities outside the data frameworks of institutions such as the CSO and NSSA. Thus lack of informal sector data is the main limitation of this study. The above obstacles not withstanding, the study compiled reasonable information with detailed data on the social security, social dialogue, health and safety and Bulawayo City’s efforts at strategic planning and local economic development. The term ‘decent work’ was neither known nor used by a majority of the key informants in this study. In general, while the statutory provisions for decent work promotion are sound, in practice the economic crisis has compromised efforts to create and stabilise employment, has poisoned the climate of social dialogue, eroded the value of pensions and benefits and heightened the risks of accidents at work. Except in its areas of direct jurisdiction, Bulawayo City has not played significant roles in promoting social dialogue and social security - issues that are the domain of national authorities. But it has been exemplary in its strategic planning efforts, partnerships, promotion of equality and indigenisation, employment creation, training and education. Employment conditions in Bulawayo are characterised by an acute economic climate that has led to decreasing numbers of jobs since the 1990s in many sectors including the construction sector. The informal sector which had created many jobs during this period is struggling to survive and was disrupted by the 2005 government operation to clear informal enterprises and settlements.

The Beacon, March 22, 2019

Unsung heroes of NWC: Randy VanPeursem; NW dancer heads to London; Movie based on true WWE story; Hozier releases Wasteland, Baby! ; Lauren Weber showing art exhibit; DME performing Sioux Center Sudan ; Two resident directors say goodbye; Two NW students enjoy Spain life; Anti-vaxers are threatening global health; Females are strong, too; Women\u27s Basketball wins in spectacular fashion; NW track place competitively at nationals; Men\u27s golf starts season with a win; Iowa and Nebraska experience record-setting floods; Senior music majors and minors perform recital

The Ham, December 2, 2022

Not a dream: Peppa Pig fools NWC administration; Practically practicing pork production at NW; Ham confiscated for concerns of heresy; Endowment Fund Piggy Bank Stolen Suddenly; The newest not-so-foreign foreign language; NW Colenbrander Hall\u27s early Christmas present; Hogwestern recruits pigs for Quidditch

The Beacon, March 17, 2023

Unsung Heroes: Sherri Langton; Women\u27s History Month at NW; Paramore makes triumphant return; Cocaine Bear movie laced with let-downs; Spreading the gospel through theatre; NW concert band shares gift of music on tour; NW students have an opportunity to learn Latin; Langton embraces community in her role at NW; Whodunnit comes to Fern for a second year; Women\u27s History Month; Reverse Amish Rumspringa; The Great Northwestern Rebrand; NW Cheer Team Ends on a High Note in GPAC; No. 17 Raiders Hot at Tucson Invitational; Raider Intermural Basketball Champions: Tun-A-Sub; TEDx at NW to spark hope through ideas; NW students serve and are stretched in the process

The Beacon, February 22, 2019

Unsung heroes of NWC: Andrew Van Ommeren; Students share Phonathon experiences; Movie blasts rom-com sterotypes; Florida Georgia Line releases new album; Vander Berg showing art exhibit; Brandon Leake to speak in chapel; NW senior\u27s soccer business thrives; You can help the zero waste effort; Racism in small communities; Camera persuades audience; NW track strong at conference; Baseball splits four game series in Missouri; Softball season begins down south; Haiti SSP trip relocated to join Mexico team; Northwestern Band tour headed to Spai

The Beacon, September 14, 2018

Sisters share more than just clothes; Creative Dining helps campus thrive; Crazy Rich Asians a hit in theaters; Ariana Grande\u27s relatable new album; Summer sequels lookback; Summer of 2018 Wyoming Sessions ; New relaxation room eases anxiety; New faculty starts at Northwestern; New food, happy students; Updated ID system; Raiders blast GPAC opener; Raiders JV soccer pick up first win of season; Big win for black and gold on Saturday; DeWitt LC undergoes changes; Annual fall retreat sees new locatio

The Beacon, April 20, 2018

Beloved community in music, art; Sky\u27s the limit with fine arts; Wes Anderson\u27s latest is one of his best; Saba brings emotions through lyrics; Hospers residents prepare for battle; Blogs serve as a creative outlet; Theatre performs 12 shows in 1 night; Hidden work on campus brought to light; The worst tariffs so far; Just watch some TV; Sioux City Relays; Gunning for a fourth title; Second place in Nebraska; NCDC finals sure to be a hit; NED Talk will focus on cultural I

The Beacon, September 30, 2022

Dr. Kasonso joins business department; New student led ministry on campus; 5SOS \u27stands out\u27 more in lyrics and sound; We can and will most definitely worry, my darling; Slam poetry: not just for the prose anymore; A presentation of talents at the Fall Music Showcase; Students embrace Latinx culture with book study; Business department gains new accounting professor; RDs connect through Survivor watch parties; Students \u27on fire\u27 with HOT Faith; King Harry and Queen Megan of the U.S.; Everyone Need a Space Guy; NW Student of Tennis: Ainslie Robinson; NW Red Raiders Suffocate Jamestown Jimmies; Kaelin Alons on The Real Goal in Women\u27s Soccer; A weekend of rest and rejuvenation; Candidates delight in dessert and conversation

The Beacon, October 27, 2017

Prof presents tenure exhibit; Fall festivities take over campus; Film brings Halloween thrills; ABR continues to impress with latest; Campus clubs: I-Club connects; Day in life of a nursing major; Guiding Star supports women\u27s health; Students serving worldwide; LC promotes county program; A festival of diversity; The importance of literature; Raiders roll in Stampede Meet; Bout against No. 8; NW drops close game; P&W planned with Dord