Creating and managing job creation is a sweet and bitter pill – Employment Standard (ES) Board told
The Department of Employment and Labour in Gauteng tells the ES board that they have had some successes as well as challenges in creating and managing job opportunities in the province.
The Department was presenting its provincial overview in terms of service delivery and job creation mandate. The Board is in the province to engage directly with the Department of Employment and Labour's management in Gauteng, the Sheltered Employment Enterprises (SEE), and the Employment Solutions. The visit started today (05 March) and will conclude tomorrow.
Deputy Director: Public Employment Services, Vusi Mazibuko told the meeting that the Department has created more opportunities including from foreign countries such as Ireland which has hired some of the job seekers in the Employment Services System of South Africa (ESSA) database.
Daniel Kgwele, the deputy director Labour Market Information Systems (LMIS), told the entourage that there seems to be a stubborn gap in terms of labour absorption and labour participation affecting the 25 to 44 years old. He suggested that public employment policies and strategy employed to narrow the gap.
He told the meeting that the Department's efforts to present opportunities to different communities has at times been hampered by community leaders (politicians) who want to dictate to the Department who to employ. “They stop us from recruiting in their areas and at times chase us away", he said.
According to the Chief Director: Public Employment Services, Esther Tloane, more countries are showing interest in importing South African work seekers. “We are currently busy with the National Labour Migration Policy which will deal with the movement of human resources in and out of the country", she said.
According to the Deputy Director Labour Centre Operations: Germiston, Shereen Ceaser, one of the centre's challenges is employers who are not complying with their Unemployment Insurance contributions.
In conclusion, the ES Board Chairperson, Thembinkosi Josopu told the gathering that they will give their observations and contributions followed by their recommendation to the minister.
Tomorrow (06 March) the ES Board will visit the Employment Solutions - an organisation for people with disabilities, and later on conclude their tour at the Sheltered Employment Services (SEE) in Silverton, Pretoria.
For more information, contact:
Mishack Magakwe
Provincial Communication Officer: Gauteng
Cell: 082 908 1828
E-mail: Mishack.magakwe@labour.gov.za
