Zambia’s Tripartite Labour Council Recommends Ratification of ILO Convention No. 102

Zambia’s Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC) has recommended the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards), marking a pivotal step toward modernizing the country’s pension and social protection systems and extending coverage to workers in the informal economy.

The endorsement came during the Council’s first session of 2026 in Lusaka, where members also reviewed ongoing pension reform proposals and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the National Strategy on Extension of Social Security Coverage to the Informal Economy. The MoU involves the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Zambia Micro and Small Traders Foundation Cooperative Society Limited (ZAMAST), and the Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMACA).

Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba opened the session by stressing the urgency of aligning with international standards. “Modernising our pension laws and ratifying ILO Convention 102 is not paperwork—it is a pledge of dignity, security and resilience for every worker. Let’s move from debate to decision,” she said.

ILO Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi Wellington Chibebe reaffirmed the organization’s support, pledging assistance both before and after ratification. Employers and workers echoed the call: Zambia Federation of Employers President Myra Ngoma-Sakala emphasized that predictable pensions build business confidence, while Zambia Congress of Trade Unions President Blake Mulala urged swift action to deliver adequate benefits for all workers, especially those in the informal sector.

Convention No. 102, often described as the flagship of international social security standards, sets minimum protections across nine branches including medical care, sickness, old-age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity, survivors, and unemployment benefits. Ratification would commit Zambia to these benchmarks and strengthen efforts to expand social protection amid rising informal employment.

The TCLC, comprising government, employers, and workers, serves as Zambia’s key tripartite forum for labour policy dialogue. Its recommendation advances long-term reforms aimed at enhancing resilience and inclusivity in the country’s social security system.