Mozambique Parliament ratifies Forced Labour Protocol

The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Thursday 10th November 2017 voted unanimously to ratify the 2014 protocol to the 1930 convention on forced labour of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The country as a result of the ratification committed itself to eradicating forced labour in all its forms, to rescuing and protecting the victims of forced labour, to punish those who promote forced labour, and to take action against the trafficking in people for forced labour.

Victoria Diogo the Labour Minister who introduced the government motion to ratify the convention says that this measure align with the Mozambican legal framework on forced labour with the international norms.

Measures to be taken under the protocol are "to educate and inform people, especially those considered to be particularly vulnerable, in order to prevent their becoming victims of forced labour", and to educate employers "in order to prevent their becoming involved in forced labour practices".

Efforts to ensure that relevant labour legislation applies to all workers and throughout the economy and that labour inspection services are strengthened are called for by the protocol. 

A unanimous vote by the Assembly authorized the government to revise the country's Commercial Code.

The intention of the revision is intended to simplify business procedures. Max Tonela  the Minister of Industry and Trade says that, the government has made this simplification a priority, as well as the elimination of barriers to the entry of new operators into the market, thus creating the conditions for attracting new investments.

Source: AIM