May 2005 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: JCTR Calls For More Efforts at Addressing the Challenge of Employment Creation
Abstract
Employment is very central in answering to the various social concerns Zambia currently faces. As such it should be one of the top most priority areas beyond what is currently obtaining in the country, observes the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) as Zambia celebrates Labour Day. “As a matter of fact, “says Muweme Muweme Coordinator of the Social Conditions Research Project of the JCTR, “within the context of efforts at fulfilling Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (which Zambia is significantly lagging behind), employment creation should be considered as one of the cardinal points of attention because of its relationship to the fulfillment of other rights such as education, health, decent housing, etc.
Description
It is important to recognize that employment is a first line necessity through which individuals and households at large earn a living. What this implies is that a person who is not in employment is unable to meet his or her and family’s material requirements such as those of adequate nutritional intake, education, housing, health, etc. But it also implies that he or she tends to experience a sense of social exclusion, inadequacy and most unfortunately the psychological pain of inability to provide for him or herself and family.