Countries
Zambia
Zambia is a low-income Sub-Saharan country enjoying substantial economic growth with a GNI p.c. of 450 US $ in 2005 rising to 970 US $ in 2010. Its business climate is relatively favourable though its ranking in the WB Doing Business report has slipped from 67th place in 2006 to 76th in 2011. Notable reforms were achieved in the field of starting a business which would take 35 days in 2005, but only 18 in 2010 and in the field of registering property which used to take 70 days in 2005, but only 40 in 2010. On the other hand, enforcing contracts is today more difficult and time-consuming: requiring 16 procedures and 274 days in 2005 as against 35 procedures and 471 days in 2010.
Zambian employers’ national and international interests are being represented by the Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE). In 2007 DECP undertook a fact-finding mission to contact the ZFE and it concluded a partnership agreement in 2009. Cooperation between ZFE and DECP has concentrated on the basics of an effective and efficient employers organisation such as finances, communication with members and with the media, services for members and support for the organisation of the “Employer of the Year Award”.
In 2011 DECP organized together with the ZFE an in depth training about job description and job evaluation and with the ITC-ILO a course for the ZFE to improve the effectiveness of ZFE and its regional branches.