14 August 2006
The governmentâs skills empowerment drive is set to focus its attention on
the countryâs small emerging business operators with the national launch on
Thursday, 17 August of the Active Labour Market Strategy (ALMS) Programme in
Bloemfontein.
The venture which is a joint initiative by the Labour Department and the
German Agency for Technological Co-operation (GTZ) forms part of the
governmentâs effort to promote sustainable livelihoods by linking skills
development with self employment, specifically among emerging entrepreneurs in
the second economy.
The ALMS entails tackling through small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME)
growth, South Africaâs persistent high unemployment rate that is compounded by
lack of appropriate skills and work experience.
Dubbed the Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Development (BESD), the exercise
will arm the scores of the unemployed with knowledge in starting their own
small businesses.
Training will feature on-site delivery, inter-linkages between training and
job creation, mentorship and the integration of business, technical and other
skills.
The project is sub-divided into several phases with different programmes and
will be spread across all provinces around the country.
The ALMS programme also addresses the design of models for co-operation
between public and private sectors for skills development in the informal
sector and capacity building measures for partner organisations including
training providers.
The development of Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Development (BESD) training
courses for target groups and trainers or facilitators is a key component and
resources for testing concepts and models on the implementation level are being
made available. Modules on HIV/AIDS awareness are integrated into BESD training
courses.
During the current programme phase, a total of 12 BESD Research and
Development (R&D) sites across all provinces will be established to refine
the BESD conceptual framework and develop best practices in preparation for a
roll-out from the middle of 2007.
The media is invited.
Details of venue and time of the launch are as follows:
Venue: Mangaung University Community Partnership Programme, Bloemfontein
Time: 11h00
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
14 August2006
