Working together we can achieve more to fight the scourge of unemployment – Employment and Labour business breakfast session Burgersfort
Addressing scores of employers at Thaba Mošate Hotel in Tubatse Burgersfort today, Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi said companies that are unable to meet their obligations or are on the verge of closing down must approach the department for help.
“We have a number of schemes to assist companies which are on the verge of closing down. If you approach us, together we will be able to come up with a rescue plan. We are supposed to be in partnership. As much as we want you to comply, we are not your enemies. We want you to make sure that our workers are treated with respect and given the necessary benefits,” said Moloi.
She said companies that do not fully declare their standing with the department are risking to be penalised, pay a fine or even face jail time. “It is all in your interest to ensure that the information you give to us is credible so that we are able to help you,” emphasised Moloi.
Moloi said it is high time for the department to change its focus on the reskilling and training programmes that are currently available. She said the focus must now shift to training people to become job creators rather than job-seekers.
Talking on the National Minimum Wage (NMW), Labour Policy & Industrial Relations: Chief Director, Thembinkosi Mkalipi, said NMW is so far one of the best policies that government has come up with.
He said employers are not allowed to pay anything less than what the minimum wage prescribes. “You cannot negotiate on this, you either pay the minimum wage or you apply for exemption. You can do it yourself or via your employer organisation. There is a criterion that applies and an application can only be done online. Exemptions are only granted on the basis of affordability,” said Mkalipi.
Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality Mayor Ramekoa said he was grateful that officials of the department have been up in arms in the past two weeks to assist members of the community on various services offered by the department.
He said although the economic growth of his municipality has seen massive expansion in the past ten years due to the mineral deposits that came with the mining industry, it has also brought about socio-economic challenges.
“We have experienced a mushrooming of new settlements that needed government to provide basic services like water, electricity and decent housing,” said Ramekoa.
The mayor appealed to the mining sector to dig deep in their pockets and increase the allocation towards the provision of basic services to the communities of Tubatse.
Fetakgomo is the largest municipality in the Sekhukhune district with 39 wards and it is the third largest in the Limpopo Province. The total population was 421 479 as per the 2011 census. The unemployment rate of the municipality is sitting at a staggering 52.2%.
He said what is of concern is that most of the young people are unable to enter the job market due to lack of skills which are a requisite in the mining industry, which is the biggest employer in the region.
He made a call to all sectors in the municipality to join forces in training the young people in many areas of skills development.
The deputy minister urged the mayor to come up with a vision and plan that he will present to the department to seek ways of developing programmes that can be brought in the municipality to help uplift the unemployed young people.
The deputy minister, accompanied by her department’s director-general together will conclude their visit tomorrow where they will be hosting “Taking the services to the People” campaign which aims to provide the department’s services on the spot.
Details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 24 August 2019
Time: 8h00 to 17h00
Venue: Tubatse Crossing Mall (Open for public)
Enquiries:
Makhosonke Buthelezi
Acting Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 071 491 7236
E-mail: Makhosonke.bthelezi@labour.gov.za
