By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulasizwe Nxesi said, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Labour Activation Programme (LAP) to provide training for employment and entrepreneurship programmes, is up-and-running and is set to be rolled-out in other provinces. Nxesi said this during an employer’s breakfast session at Kempton Park Civic Centre, in Johannesburg.
He further said, South Africa finds itself in the throes of an ever changing technological era and this calls for adaptation.
“We are living in a technological era. This massive training will now be needed to be implemented on a large scale to multi-skill the unemployed, so as to adapt to the ever-changing world of technology.
“A week ago, we have announced that the Department of Employment and Labour, through the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s LAP, has launched a R23.8-billion programme to fund the training for employment and entrepreneurship programme,” said Nxesi.
He added that the crime ravaging the country was threatening its stability and noted that the government needed to partner with the private sector to counter the threat. Nxesi said the government was intent to help business, especially small enterprises as the “big employer is small business”.
“We appeal for partnerships at district level to ensure integrated interventions as part of the District Development Model (DDM). It is unacceptable that, Gauteng as the country’s economic hub, had a high unemployment rate and this situation could be even worse in other provinces.
“During the employer breakfast, a number of service providers were handed their certificates confirming their participation in the training to employ programme and entrepreneurship development,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Small Business Development Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrams, who shared the podium with Nxesi, reiterated the role of partnerships. Ndabeni-Abrams said the National Development Plan (NDP) envisioned the creation of 11 million new jobs by 2030 and that most of these should come from small businesses.
“The only way to make South Africa work is to grow small businesses. We have to also look at developing new industries. We are continuously advocating for more incentives to be given to business, especially those geared towards promoting small business.
“The informal businesses also needed to be supported to transition to formal business. The employer’s breakfast session was held alongside the Jobs and Careers Fair which was held at Rabasotho Community Hall, Tembisa,” she said.
Ndabeni-Abrams said the event is part of an initiative to engage with individuals seeking employment, providing them with the opportunity to interact with potential employers and gain insights into crucial career paths.
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