Minister: Unskilled labour not getting enough help

People with skills were not assisting those who were struggling, causing skills-development regulations to be introduced, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said on Thursday.

Speaking at the national skills conference, he said the Department of Labour was currently developing regulations that would make it compulsory for employers to register all vacancies and placements with the department.

Mdladlana said: “Such a registration process by employers would enable the department to enhance an employment-services system that would match job seekers to job opportunities, skills development opportunities and social insurance.

“This intervention would also enable the government to systematically deal with the scarce skills issue, and the gaps of the South African workforce would also be available in one central database.”

According to the department, the regulations would also provide a foundation for assessment of employment and unemployment trends, sectors creating jobs and those losing jobs, and the necessary interventions beyond the labour market.

Setas (Skills Education Training Authorities) were established to assist in enhancing workplace skills but the department said that the Setas in place had not accomplished what they were intended do.

Mdladlana said: “It has become increasingly clear that the social pact agreed between the government, business and labour was either too premature or simply not feasible.

“The African National Congress has proposed that in order for us to resolve institutional issues we should reduce the number of Setas come 2010.”

A Skills Development Act was introduced to provide an institutional framework to devise and implement national, sector and workplace strategies. But according to labour reports not many employers had implemented the skills act in the workplace.

“These problems are compounded by allowing employers to develop individual workplace skills plans that have nothing to do with the country’s skills, needs or our employment equity imperatives,” Mdladlana said.—Sapa