We remain committed to creating jobs for South Africans
The expanded mandate of the Department of Employment & Labour which is articulated in its five-year Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2024 provides for a shift from labour market regulation to focus sharply on employment creation and the coordination of employment efforts throughout government and its agencies.
Through the Unemployment Insurance Fund over the past year, we have been able to create over 14 000 jobs for young South Africans and we have skilled them with economically relevant skills that enable them to be employed or start-up co-operatives in order to employ other citizens in order to contribute to the economic development and upliftment of society. This number can and must be increased and will be possible with a more agile approach which we believe will create sustainable job opportunities, which is what is more needed for our people.
Pursuant to ensuring the continuous creation of new job and growth opportunities for our people we are obliged in our resolve to leverage on innovation, technology and novel approaches to keep up with the demands for jobs in the country.
The fast changing domestic and international environments require agility from us, and such do not come without some degree of risk. The viability of some job creation innovations and initiatives, especially those with novel approaches can only be tested once they have been implemented, and this shouldn’t make them any less worthy of being given an opportunity. We are a responsible Department who does continuous verification, monitoring and due diligence on projects along with our entities.
Risks will always be there, and must be identified and mitigated. This we believe we do well through our contracts and agreements with job creation partners and service providers which can be cancelled at any given time, and to which processes can be instituted to recoup funds which had been spent.
Bureaucracy in government should not be used as an excuse to suppress opportunities that can begin to substantively address the problem of unemployment. What is important is that we pursue actions that can be justified and that are intended to ensure that the department discharges of its mandate. And for this our hearts need to be in the right place. There is no place for corruption or serving of self-interests.
Special interest is given to each and every project that we approve, and which provides opportunity to impact positively on society and reverse unemployment.
We will continue to work with non-profit organisations, private and public sector institutions as well as all stakeholder and social partners to explore new forms of employment creation initiatives and innovations in our resolve to create sustainable jobs for South Africans.
For media enquiries contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za
Or
Trevor Hattingh
067 410 4099 or trevor.hattingh@labour.gov.za
