Zambia Moves to Ratify Global Social Security Standard to Modernise Pensions and Protect Informal Workers

Tripartite Labour Council backs ILO Convention 102 as government, employers and unions align on inclusive social protection reform.

 

Zambia has taken a decisive step toward transforming its social protection system, with the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC) recommending the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards)—a cornerstone global treaty that sets the benchmark for comprehensive and inclusive social security systems.

The recommendation, made during the TCLC’s first session of 2026 in Lusaka, signals growing national consensus on modernising pension laws, strengthening benefit adequacy, and extending social security coverage to Zambia’s large informal economy.

Aligning National Reform with Global Standards

Opening the session, Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba framed ratification as a substantive reform choice rather than a symbolic gesture.

“Modernising our pension laws and ratifying ILO Convention 102 is not paperwork—it is a pledge of dignity, security and resilience for every worker,” she said. “Let’s move from debate to decision.”

Convention No. 102 is widely recognised as the foundation of international social security standards, establishing minimum protections across nine branches, including medical care, old-age pensions, maternity benefits, employment injury protection and unemployment support.

Informal Economy Coverage Moves from Strategy to Action

Alongside its recommendation on Convention 102, the TCLC reviewed Zambia’s pension reform package and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to operationalise the National Strategy on the Extension of Social Security Coverage to the Informal Economy.

The MoU brings together 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)—marking a practical step toward enrolling informal workers through trusted membership-based organisations.

The agreement is expected to support contributory mechanisms, outreach, and awareness for traders, marketeers, and micro-entrepreneurs who have traditionally been excluded from formal pension and social insurance systems.

Tripartite Support Signals Reform Momentum

ILO Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi, Wellington Chibebe, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for Zambia’s reform agenda, describing alignment with Convention 102 as a long-term investment in social and economic stability.

“Aligning reforms with C.102 is a commitment to dignity, security and resilience for every worker,” he said. “The ILO stands ready to support implementation—before and after ratification.”

Employer and worker representatives also voiced strong backing, underscoring the breadth of tripartite consensus.

Zambia Federation of Employers President Myra Ngoma-Sakala noted that predictable pension systems benefit both workers and businesses.“ZFE welcomes pension reforms and ratifying ILO Convention 102. Predictable pensions protect workers and build business confidence,” she said.

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions President Blake Mulala urged swift action.“Workers can’t wait. Ratify ILO Convention 102 and pass pension reforms that deliver adequate, predictable benefits for all—including the informal majority,” he said.

Why It Matters

With the majority of Zambia’s workforce operating in the informal economy, ratifying Convention 102 and implementing pension reform could mark a structural shift from fragmented coverage toward a universal, rights-based social protection system.

For policymakers, development partners and financial inclusion advocates, the move positions Zambia as a regional reformer—demonstrating how tripartite dialogue, global standards and locally grounded partnerships can converge to deliver social security at scale.