The South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu) said on Thursday it was disappointed at the government’s decision to close down a domestic skills project.
The project was a sector education and training authority (Seta) initiative targeting the country’s estimated 1,5-million domestic workers.
”It [the project] was giving the domestic workers some hope, they were being recognised as a labour force,” said Sadsawu General Secretary, Myrtle Witbooi.
She said the project, set up with funding of R120-million from the National Skills Fund, targeted employed domestic workers.
Witbooi said protests and a memorandum to Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana highlighting the sector’s dissatisfaction with the proposed closure received no response.
”The project officially closes tomorrow [Friday] and the minister was supposed to call us by today [Thursday],” said Witbooi.
She said it seems as if money invested in the project was wasted, with the project having operated for less than three years.
Witbooi said domestic workers wanted Mdladlana to institute a levy for employers to help pay for the initiative and its sustainability, similar to other Seta’s.
”Just a R2 can make a difference… We want the project to continue indefinitely.”
Witbooi said besides ensuring that domestic workers could broaden their skills base by acquiring certificates for courses, in for example, cooking or housekeeping, employers would also benefit by employing better skilled workers.
Witbooi said workers were contemplating walking out during the official closing down ceremony in Johannesburg on Friday.
Attempts to get hold of ministerial spokesman Eddie Mohoebi were unsuccessful. – Sapa