Have you taken a taxi in New York, Paris or London driven by a first-generation immigrant – only to realize that the driver used to be a doctor, engineer or lawyer in his or her home country? Language barriers, non-equivalent diplomas or simply lack of opportunities all contribute to de-professionalization – or skilled workers taking up unskilled work.
Zimbabwe used to have one of the strongest economies in Southern Africa, with a highly educated population and skilled labor force. Today, the economy has virtually collapsed, with an inflation rate reaching in the thousands and rows of supermarket shelves left empty. In South Africa we met scores of Zimbabwean teachers who had no choice but to leave their country: some left because the meager monthly government salaries they were receiving could not even pay for a few days’ worth of food; others because they had been threatened due to their political activism.
In Botswana, electricians, engineers and artisans are hired illegally to do basic construction work. They are sought for their skills and experience, but are paid low salaries – and are threatened with arrest if they complain.
Just a few days ago we interviewed commercial sex workers in a small town in Zambia. We were told that the sex trade used to involve mainly Zambian women. Today, the vast majority of them are coming from Zimbabwe, desperate to earn foreign currency in order to send some food back to their families. These women used to have office jobs back in Harare, working as clerks for banks or supermarkets. Because of the Zimbabwean government’s repressive economic policies, these women are reduced to washing clothes during the day and selling their bodies at night.
Without strong legal frameworks that protect workers’ rights and most importantly enable migrants to work legally, Zimbabweans are at the mercy of ruthless employers. De-professionalization is a sign of desperation, and one that host governments should respond to urgently.
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Patrick Duplat is currently assessing the humanitarian situation of Zimbabweans in southern Africa with Sean Garcia.
Labels: Zimbabwe
