Pretoria – The Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant has announced a R300 million training programme that will benefit 8000 unemployed people and youths.
The training programme will be funded by the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Setas, and will also involve the Departments of Public Works, Higher Education and Training and Human Settlements.
The immediate beneficiaries of the programme will be those youths and unemployed people who registered on the department's match-making platform, the Employment Services for South Africa (Essa) at the recent Jobs Fairs held by the department.
The minister, briefing media at the launch of the training programme in Pretoria on Tuesday, said learners will receive training in various fields, including motor mechanics, instrument mechanician, fitter and turners and diesel mechanics.
The chemical industries education and training authority (CHIETA) is expected to train 1500 learners at a cost of R100 million, the tourism, hospitality and sport, education and training authority (THETA) will train 777 learners in aviation-related fields at a cost of R47 million and the construction education and training authority (CETA) and the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) will train 200 learners in plumbing and renewable energy skills at a cost of R3.6 million.
Oliphant said a further 100 learners will receive training in the scuba diving- related field at a cost of R6 million and 500 more learners will be trained as seafarers.
The department has also extended its own commitment to skills development to the Department of Human Settlements to train 1800 youth on a variety of construction skills. The Department of Public Works will also train 900 learners in the same construction-related field at a cost of R16 million.
A further 2000 youths will be trained in ICT and marketing skills to assist the UIF to market the uFiling system to both employers and employees.
It is imperative that workers’ skills be improved, said the minister.
"The more people we train, the more likely that they will gain the necessary skills and secure employment therefore rely less on UIF benefits and other social services," Oliphant said. – SAnews.gov.za
