Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
{{Short description|Government ministry of Zimbabwe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is a government ministry, responsible for labour relations and welfare in Zimbabwe. Clever Nyathi was the incumbent minister until 2 December while the Joshua Malinga was appointed as the deputy minister for the portfolio of Social Welfare.{{cite news|url=https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/mnangagwa-appoints-military-commanders-in-recycled-cabinet/4144702.html|title=Mnangagwa Appoints Coup Plotters to Key Ministries in Recycled Mugabe Cabinet|publisher=Voice of America}} Nyathi was replaced by ZANU-PF lawmaker Petronella Kagonye.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/zimbabwe-education-minister/zimbabwes-mnangagwa-drops-education-minister-after-public-outcry-idINKBN1DW0DE|title=Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa drops education minister after public outcry|publisher=Reuters}} It oversees National Social Security Authority. On November 27, 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded ousted President Robert Mugabe following the 2017 Zimbabwe coup d'état, announced the dissolution of the Zimbabwe Cabinet, leaving only Patrick Chinamasa and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi as acting ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs respectively.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/headlines/mnangagwa-dissolves-cabinet-chinamasa-appointed-acting-finance-minister/|title = Mnangagwa dissolves cabinet, Chinamasa appointed Acting Finance Minister|date = 27 November 2017}}
Overview
The Ministry of Labour and Social Services (MoLSS) is the arm of government with statutory responsibility for the protection of vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe. It has two main Departments namely, the Department of Labour and the Department Social Services, which both consist of several divisions.
The Department of Labour deals with Labour related issues through its divisions which are the labour relations division, labour research & economics division, international relations division, registration process division and the national employment services division. The Department of Social Services (DSS), which is the main focal point of the assignment, is responsible for finance and administration, rehabilitation, family and child welfare, and policy and programming. DSS, like many other government departments, was enormously affected by the economic decline, caused by the high Inflation rate which had peaked to 231 million per cent, characterized by high prices and unemployment which left 1.5 million households in poverty, homes to some 3.5 million children.National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children II 2011 As economic growth declined in Zimbabwe, so did the labour absorptive capacity of the economy such that by 2004, four out of every five jobs in Zimbabwe were informalised, resulting in massive decent work deficits. Unemployment rates had remained below 10 per cent between 1982 and 2004.CSO, LFS, 2004 However, during the same period there was a decline in formal employment (from 1.1 million in 1993 to 990,000 in 2002), and a corresponding increase in informal employment.UN Country analysis Report 2010 The high unemployment rate led to a lack of professional expertise in different organisations following the exodus of qualified social workers as well as other professionals in search of greener pastures in neighbouring countries and abroad. Over 70% people migrating to South Africa, had an economic purpose for migrating.Tevera and Zinyama 2002