Govt Moves to Ease Unpaid Labour Burden on Women – Tambatamba

Lusaka, June 3, 2025 – Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Mwika Tambatamba, has announced that government is undertaking strategic reforms to reduce the unequal burden of unpaid care work that continues to fall heavily on women, particularly in low-income and rural communities.

In a speech delivered on her behalf by Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga during the launch of the Time Use Survey report yesterday, Ms. Tambatamba said the government is committed to developing a comprehensive blueprint that will reduce and redistribute unpaid care responsibilities. “We want to ensure that women and caregivers receive the protection and support they deserve,” she said.

Ms. Tambatamba stressed that unpaid care work has become a major barrier to women’s participation in formal employment, education, and economic development. “Women continue to shoulder the bulk of domestic care responsibilities. According to the 2022 Labour Force Survey, 52.6 percent of women are employed in the household sector compared to 47.4 percent of men. This imbalance is both unfair and unsustainable,” she stated.

To address the issue, the minister pointed to several government interventions, including the Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) Project, aimed at increasing access to education and livelihood support for women and girls. “We believe that empowering women through education and economic opportunities is key to shifting the current dynamics,” said Ms. Tambatamba.

She further acknowledged the findings of the Time Use Survey, which showed that women account for 74.5 percent of domestic care workers, while men dominate domestic non-care roles at 54.9 percent. “These statistics highlight the urgent need to restructure how care responsibilities are shared in our homes and communities,” she added.

The minister reiterated that the government's efforts align with international labour standards, particularly the International Labour Organization’s Domestic Workers Convention No. 189. She affirmed that domestic workers in Zambia are now legally recognized under NAPSA, WCFCB, and NHIMA for social protection. Stakeholders such as OXFAM Zambia and the Zambia Statistics Agency welcomed the move, calling for continued advocacy and policy reforms to close the gender equality gap in unpaid labour.