Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Friday urged unemployed workers to establish skills development forums to channel existing social development funds towards skills development and job creation projects.
Mdladlana made the announcement at Richards Bay in Kwazulu-Natal during the third leg of his five-day official visit to the province.
Addressing more than 500 unemployed people, Mdladlana said unemployment was a cause for concern for all including government, business and community organisations.
Government remained committed to the 2003 Growth and Development Summit agreement with business and organised labour to take 72 000 young unemployed in learnerships by May 2004.
”As government we are resolute on our commitment to training and developing young unemployed people not just to place them in paying jobs, but to also ensure that they become successful entrepreneurs,” Mdladlana said in a statement.
”My advice to the unemployed is to approach the Department of Labour centres and provide us with suggestions on how job creation projects can be created and also on the kinds of skills they may need.”
He said he was appalled to hear that certain companies in the Richards Bay area would not employ local people. He assured workers that the department would look into allegations that certain employers in the area were forcing work-seekers to undergo a compulsory medical examination for jobs.
”It’s our prerogative as the department to protect workers and the unemployed against any form of exploitation and discrimination and to ensure that allegations of unacceptable labour practices are investigated and necessary steps taken.”
Mdladlana said he would make an appeal to businesses in the area to actively participate in the skills development of youth by taking at least one learner in their workplace.
”If each one of the companies in Richards Bay could take at least one learner in their employ for a year then the problem of youth unemployment in the area could decrease exponentially.”
During the visit Mdladlana also addressed a meeting of the Black Management Forum and small and medium businesses where he reiterated the SMME’s role in skills development and the creation of jobs to absorb young unemployed people.
Referring to earlier calls by Freedom Front Plus leader Corne Mulder to scrap the Employment Equity Act, he said the ANC government had no intention of repealing the Act until such time that the country was rid of all forms of discrimination and was fully transformed.
Mdladlana also spoke to local farm workers at Gingindlovu where he emphasised government’s stance on sectoral determination and that minimum wage for farm workers was a necessity. – Sapa