Keynote address by the Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant on the occasion of the Ministerial Jobs Summit & Jobs Fair in George, Western Cape Province
Programme Director,
Minister in the Presidency; Hon Susan Shabangu,
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries; Hon Senzeni Zokwana,
Deputy Minister of Small Business Development; Hon Elizabeth Thabethe,
Acting Executive Mayor- Eden District Municipality, Cllr Lionel Esau,
Deputy Mayor- George Local Municipality, Cllr Daniel Maritz,
Cde Major Sokopo, ANC Regional Secretary - Eden District,
Cllr Fanele Guga of Ward 9 in Thembalethu,
Leaders of our social partners; Business, Labour and Community Representatives,
Comrades and Compatriots
Leaders of Government Entities here present,
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Goeie More, Molweni, Good Day, Sanibonani!!!
Four months ago we conducted inspections of businesses in and around George. In that process we interacted with workers and employers alike, took note of the issues that were raised and made some commitments. One of the commitments we made was that we would come back before the end of the year to host a Jobs Fair cum Jobs summit.
Here we are today as part of fulfilling that very commitment Ladies and Gentlemen.
Talking about inspection, let me assure you that the principle that underpins our inspection and enforcement seeks to build partnerships and provide assistance to enhance better compliance rather than bullying employers to comply.
Our motto is to convince our social partners in business that complying with our labour laws and any other law for that matter, is the right thing to do. More so with the labour laws given that they are co-created with the involvement of all our social partners. Every single labour law in this country is a product of robust engagements at Nedlac. I do find it strange at times when the very social partners who take part in shaping our labour laws, start taking pot-shots at the very labour laws they helped create.
You will also be aware that South Africa is guided by the international best practices when it comes to crafting labour relations regulatory framework.
We draw a lot from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and recommendations when developing our labour relations dispensation. In addition, all our labour laws have to pass the scrutiny of the robust Economic and Social Impact Assessment and most importantly, they also have to be in line with the spirit and the letter of our Constitution. These various tests through which our labour laws have to undergo, give most of us a degree of comfort that we are at least not trampling on the fundamental rights of our citizens.
As a matter of fact, our Labour Laws are a mere expression of the Bill of Rights in this country which of course owes its origins from the 1955 Freedom Charter and nothing more. None of our labour laws fall outside of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution remit, none at all.
Programme Director; today we are here not to lament about how well or how terrible are the levels of compliance with our labour laws, nor are we here to point fingers at anybody. We are here to advance partnership in action by joining hands in one of many initiatives that are designed to address unemployment, through linking job seekers with prospective employers and to look at what can be done to enhance employability of our people.
Ladies and Gentlemen; I sincerely hope that all the entities that are here today, have come prepared to interact “face to face” with the Jobs seekers and those who want to advance their careers in different fields of work.
I also hope that the job seekers themselves have come fully armed with their CVs to get registered on our job-seekers data base and to showcase their talents and capabilities to prospective employers that have secured exhibition stalls in this Jobs Fair.
Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen; I do not want to take too much of your time with a long speech, but I think it is important to touch on one or two points in order to give some context in what we are doing today.
I hope you will agree with me that the fight against unemployment, poverty and inequality cannot be a monopoly of any one social partner; therefore it should be fought by all and on all fronts. Every South African deserve to be given the opportunity to find a job, which is vital in bringing a real meaning to our hard fought freedom, dignity and a chance to better one’s life.
No one will be prosecuted for trespassing if you come in here to bring an innovation that will get our people employed, entrepreneurs given a chance to grow and our sons and daughters given opportunities. We perhaps should have a sign at the door that says “Right of Admission is not Reserved” and “Trespassers will not be Prosecuted”
No one disputes the fact that lasting victory over poverty and hunger requires the creation of decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for all our people. South Africa‘s democratic elections from 1994 to 2014 were about the aspirations and collective desire for a better South Africa and a better life for all. They were about a journey to bring an end to the legacy of apartheid and to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
I submit that decent work is the foundation of the fight against poverty and inequality, and its promotion should be the cornerstone of all our efforts. Decent work embraces both the need for more jobs and for better quality jobs. The creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods remain at the core of the ANC government's agenda. The task of addressing joblessness, poverty and inequality is a responsibility of all of us and not just one social partner. For this we need to stop the blame game, and demonstrate that we are indeed committed to the future of this country.
The majority of South Africans have no other place they call home other than South Africa. If South Africa is in trouble, they do not have a holiday home in some exotic Island in the middle of an ocean somewhere. They literally have nowhere else to run to. South Africa is all what we have, therefore building and defending it, is not an option but a duty.
Programme Director; Four days ago, Statistics South Africa released its quarterly labour force survey for the period July-September 2015. The report indicates very clearly that cracking unemployment remains one of the toughest tasks that we face as a nation. The report highlights some good and bad news on the employment front.
Starting with the good news; Employment levels for the same period last year, increased from 15,1 million to 15.8 million and this represents an increase of some Seven hundred thousand in the economy in the last twelve months period.
If we zero in on the period July-September 2015, employment increased by 171 000 in the third quarter of 2015 after an increase of 198 000 in the second quarter of 2015.
Employment levels increased in five industries during this period. Large employment gains were observed in the Trade and Construction industries which recorded 81 000 and 59 000 new jobs respectively. The number of people employed in the Mining industry remained unchanged between the two quarters.
For the year ended September 2015, employment levels increased in seven of the nine provinces. The largest employment gains were recorded in Gauteng with 191 000 increase in employment gains followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 154 000, Limpopo with 147 000 and Western Cape with 136 000.
Northern Cape remained unchanged and Eastern Cape declined by 5000 during the twelve month period ending September 2015.
Whilst this is all good news, the main trouble is the increase in the number of new entrants into the labour market and low rate of absorption. So on the one hand employment levels have increased but not at the same level as the number of new entrants into the labour market and nowhere near the required levels of labour absorption rate.
To deal with the unemployment challenge will require “all hands on deck” predicated on strong partnership. Ladies and Gentlemen; The National Development Plan (NDP) calls for a social compact to reduce poverty and inequality, and to raise employment and investment levels. This Jobs Fair is but one of the elements that could be part of the building blocks towards that very social compact that the NDP advocates.
Former President Nelson Mandela once said, and I quote, “The challenges … in South Africa… are not for government alone, but are equally challenges for our social partners. None of our goals are achievable by government …working in its own corner… alone.” Close quote. It is precisely for this reason that we conceptualise this platform where all of us as citizens of this country, come together and, in a very practical manner, address the challenge of joblessness in our society.
We recognise that a society based on poverty for many, and prosperity for a few, carries the biggest risk to all of us. During the platinum strike of the recent past I heard one worker representative pose very sharp questions, and they went something like this; “If you won't let us dream we won't let you sleep".
What happens when real opportunity for everyone earning below the poverty line, evaporates entirely? What happens when people can't find decent paying jobs that they can afford to live on? What happens when people have had enough? These questions are difficult, but as a collective in this room we can provide answers to these questions and this jobs fair is a step in that I guess.
The National Development Plan (NDP) proposes taking concrete steps to strengthen the functioning of the labour market to improve skills acquisition, match job seekers and job openings, and reduce conflict.
This initiative seeks to translate this NDP proposition into reality through facilitating employment enhancing skills acquisition and match job seekers with job openings initiatives.
The NDP goes on and states that its objectives requires leadership to drive implementation, and to convince South Africans of the need to make mutual sacrifices for longer-term benefits of the nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen; today is the test of whether or not we are ready to make those mutual sacrifices that the plan puts forward, a reality.
I am very pleased that a number of businesses and public entities are here to interact with the Job seekers.
I hope that a number of job-seekers will walk away from this event with letters inviting them for interviews, internship opportunities and other opportunities in your organisations. I also hope that the job-seekers themselves will walk away from here with a better sense of what is on offer and will take steps to position themselves for those opportunities.
From the Department of Labour, this event marks the beginning of a journey that we should all undertake for the public good and the future of our nation.
This initiative Ladies and Gentlemen, resonates with the objects of the Public Employment Services Act of 2014, which provides the legal framework to provide for public employment services, the establishment of schemes to promote the employment of young work seekers and other vulnerable persons, and schemes to assist employees in distressed companies to retain employment.
Our youth is becoming restless and given that about 50% of them in South Africa are struggling to secure gainful employment, the urgency of making these initiatives work, cannot be over-emphasised.
God Bless South Africa; Nkosi Sikelel’ Iafrica.
I Thank You - Baie Dankie!!!
