Pretoria – Government is working actively with business, organised labour and other stakeholders to address economic growth challenges and to find effective mechanisms of creating jobs.
Answering questions from MPs in Parliament on Thursday, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said there is a wide range of complementary government initiatives that are aimed at boosting job creation. These include public employment programmes, the Jobs Fund programme, the Industrial Policy Action Plan and partnerships with organised agriculture and rural initiatives.
“Other initiatives led by the Minister of Finance and Mr Jabu Mabuza from business include joint roadshows by government, business and labour to explain our country’s economic growth programme. The collaboration that has been taking place between business, government and labour is a collaboration that will continue to bear fruit,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said.
He said the business community has been given the challenge to respond to youth unemployment.
“They are now coming forward with revolutionary proposals that are going to lead in ensuring that we get hundreds of thousands of young people into internships and business so that they can learn the world of work.
“Significant and tangible progress is being made on an on-going basis and clearly we need to proceed along this road so that when the economy begins to pick up, we utilise all these initiatives to inject more life into our economy,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said.
Government is revising the policy governing the disbursement of the skills levy to support the post school training and education system more effectively.
Furthermore, government is strengthening the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in providing theoretical training for artisans and ensuring that key government departments continue to work with business to ensure the transition of qualified students into the labour market.
“Government has a plan to improve skills and create employment,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said.
He said since 1994, government has demonstrated its empathy and compassion to its people. “This government has been able to lift millions and millions of our people out of abject poverty.”
He said the almost four million houses that have been built have brought joy and dignity to the majority of people in the country.
“This government is a government of the people that seek to improve the lives of our people as a whole.
“Access to higher education has almost doubled between 1994 and 2014. Over a million students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions. Government is building on this progress by creating greater access to quality post school education and training through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and monitoring changes in university fee structures,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
