SADC PF Committee urged to champion inclusive labour market reforms |20 June 2026

Dr Edmore Munjeyi, a lecturer at the University of Botswana (Photo: Moses Magadza, SADC PF)

The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) has been urged to champion far-reaching legislative and policy reforms aimed at improving the welfare of women, youth and elderly persons in the labour market as part of efforts to build a more inclusive and resilient regional economy.

Presenting before the Human and Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP) Standing Committee public hearing in Botswana recently, Dr Edmore Munjeyi, a lecturer at the University of Botswana, said that despite notable progress in regional integration, vulnerable groups continue to face significant barriers that limit their participation in economic development and decent employment.

Dr Munjenyi, who holds two PhDs, noted that while the SADC labour force grew from approximately 104 million people in 2009 to 142 million in 2019, job creation had failed to keep pace with population growth, resulting in persistent unemployment, underemployment and widespread informal employment.

He observed that women remain disproportionately affected by labour market inequalities, earning on average about 20 percent less than men while being overrepresented in low-paying and informal occupations that often lack social protection and employment benefits.

According to Dr Munjenyi, workplace discrimination, unequal pay, occupational segregation, limited access to finance, workplace harassment and the burden of unpaid caregiving responsibilities continue to constrain women's economic advancement.

He added that cultural and patriarchal norms in some countries further restrict women’s access to leadership positions and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Drawing lessons from countries such as Rwanda and South Africa, he highlighted how gender quotas and employment equity legislation have helped improve women’s participation in decision-making and workplace inclusion.

On youth employment, Dr Munjenyi described unemployment among young people as one of the region’s most pressing socio-economic challenges, with rates ranging between 25 and 50 percent in many SADC countries.

He said young people frequently struggle to transition from education to employment because of skills mismatches, limited work experience, inadequate access to finance and insufficient support for entrepreneurship.

“The region's youthful population represents a significant demographic dividend if properly harnessed through investments in education, skills development and job creation,” he said.

Dr Munjenyi pointed to successful initiatives such as Botswana’s Youth Fund and Germany’s dual vocational training system as examples of how stronger links between education and labour market needs can improve employment outcomes.

He also advocated for greater investment in apprenticeships, vocational training, agro-entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurship and labour mobility arrangements across the SADC region.

Turning to the welfare of older persons, Dr Munjenyi warned that many elderly citizens continue working beyond retirement age due to inadequate pension coverage and limited social protection, particularly those who spent much of their lives in informal employment.

He noted that while many developed countries enjoy near-universal pension coverage, significant gaps remain across Southern Africa, leaving many elderly citizens vulnerable to poverty, dependency and social exclusion.

Examples from South Africa and Namibia, he said, demonstrate the positive impact of social pensions in reducing old-age poverty and improving quality of life.

To address these challenges, Dr Munjenyi presented a set of recommendations for consideration by the SADC Parliamentary Forum and member states.

Among the proposals were stronger gender equality legislation, including equal pay laws, anti-discrimination measures and workplace harassment policies; increased investment in affordable childcare and family support services; and the establishment of regional women's economic empowerment funds to improve access to finance and support women-owned enterprises.

He further called for the institutionalisation of youth apprenticeship and skills development programmes, expanded support for youth entrepreneurship and innovation, and accelerated implementation of labour mobility frameworks to enable young professionals to access opportunities across the region.

Other recommendations included extending social protection systems to informal workers through flexible contribution arrangements, introducing universal or near-universal pension schemes, strengthening labour market data collection and monitoring, and mainstreaming measurable targets for women's empowerment, youth employment and elderly welfare within regional development frameworks.

He contended that improving the welfare of women, youth and older persons is essential to achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development in the SADC region.

He said the SADC Parliamentary Forum is uniquely positioned to advance these reforms through legislative oversight, policy harmonisation and advocacy, helping unlock the productive potential of all citizens while building a more equitable and prosperous regional economy.

By Moses Magadza recently in Gaborone, Botswana

(Moses Magadza, PhD, is the media and communications manager at the SADC PF)