Skills development is vital in reducing youth unemployment – Minister Davies
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies launched a R71 million Internships Programme for Unemployed Graduates at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, in Cape Town.
Speaking at the launch Minister Davies said skills development and creating opportunities for youth and graduates will go a long way in reducing the levels of poverty and unemployment in South Africa.
He said the South African economy underwent a structural change over the years that saw a huge demand of unskilled labour diminishing.
“Today most companies are looking for high quality skill force and that makes it more difficult for those without skills to find jobs in the labour market. Graduates represent a small, but important share of the human resource capacity towards competitive and value-adding economy. Therefore, Itukise will contribute to reducing the loss of investment in education,” said Davies.
Minister Davies told stakeholders that government overall intention is to try and focus on the creation of jobs for youth and encourage the private sector to work with government to make the programme a success.
‘’The Itukise programme, presents an opportunity to develop and market the profile of manufacturing sector to young people in the provision of decent work and in increasing opportunities for learning on and off the job,’’ added Davies.
Davies said that through Itukise, the dti will engage companies that have received different incentives from the department to provide relevant work experience to unemployed graduates for 12 months.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Skill Fund, Mr Mvuyisi Macikama said there is a need to turn every workplace in South Africa into a training space in order to have a skill labour force.
Macikama said unemployment issues cannot be addressed without addressing the issue of skills development.
He urged the youth to work hard, achieve the best standards and also to absorb as much as they can in the order to master their craft.
The programme will be implemented in three waves of intakes in the two years. The first wave will start on the 1st of April 2014, the second will start on the 1st of August 2014 and the last wave will start on the 1st of April 2015.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
