The department of labour’s drive for job creation and decent work received an added boost at a Jobs Fair outside Polokwane, Limpopo on Friday with Minister Mildred Oliphant urging employers to register their opportunities on the departmental Public Employment Services (PES) database.
The call came hot on the heels of similar meetings in East London, Richards Bay and Kimberley which were attend by thousands of desperate job seekers. The gatherings saw dozens of employers playing their part in registering the job seekers-mainly the youth through the system.
“We have made a commitment to contribute to the creation of decent employment through inclusive economic growth and to respond to the strategic priorities of government through increased focus on decent work, Public Employment Services, Enhancing Inspection and Enforcement Services to effectively monitor and enforce compliance with legislation, Strengthening Social Security and Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Department”, the Minister said.
The audience included notable parliamentarians amongst them, Alleck Nchabeleng the chairperson of portfolio committee on labour, Mathole Motshega, the African National Congress Chief Whip and Godfrey Oliphant, the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources, Office of the Premier, Members of legislature, Acting Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality and Councillors.
Oliphant said the department has been registering work-seekers and matching them with available job opportunities and has also taken a conscious decision to go out and interact with job seekers so that it develops and designs different approaches that may be used in providing them with support.
“That is why we have today brought our campaign to Limpopo so that we can reach out to those who should be assisted”, she said.
She also told the meeting that the department, through the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund, has invested more than R4 billion with the Industrial Development Cooperation in job creation initiatives.
“We have also embarked on a number of subsidiary schemes that are aimed at providing training to the unemployed, as well as those injured on duty so that they are given an opportunity to go back into the labour market. More than 16 000 jobs have been created as a result of this initiative and a total of 18 463 jobs have also been retained”.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
Johannes Mokou
Cell: 082 908 1833
Oliphant appeals to business to use DOL’s database
