The ongoing plight of millions of desperate work seekers is to be alleviated with the Department of Labour creating a new Public Employment Services (PES).
This was said today (Wednesday) during a public consultation on the proposed labour law amendments in Polokwane, Limpopo. Thembinkosi Mkhalipi, the Chief Director of Labour Market Policy, said PES would provide employment services intervention to both work seekers and employers.
"The rules and functions of PES will include promotion of youth and persons with disabilities, recommendation of employment of foreign workers with rare skills in labour market as well as employment counselling and information on training opportunities," Mkhalipi said.
Additional functions of PES are the registration and licensing of any person who wants to operate as a private employment agency. "I wish to hasten to say that such agencies are not allowed to charge fees for providing such services," he said.
The Polokwane meeting saw two hundred employers and trade unionists putting forward their views ahead of the protracted NEDLAC processes.
The hearings are scheduled to end in Kimberly (Northern Cape) tomorrow (Thursday) with the department impressed with a large turnout that has characterised the engagements throughout the country.
The hearings are a sequel to the announcement by Labour Minister Nelisiwe Olifant, that legislative amendments are on the way to respond to labour market changes as well as to align our laws with the international norms and practices.
Contact:
Johannes Mokou
Tel: 015 290 1603
Cell: 083 4942180/ 082 9081833
E-mail: johannes.mokou@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
