More than 116,000 job seekers were placed in employment over the past year, Nomakhosazana Meth has said
South African Minister of Employment and Labor Nomakhosazana Meth has revealed that more than 47,000 jobs were saved over the past year through interventions by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The Minister revealed this in a written reply to Parliament after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Tebogo Mokwele asked what concrete measures the department had taken to address South Africa’s persistent unemployment. Mokwele also asked what measures had been put in place to hold corporations accountable for exploiting workers and denying them fair wages and benefits, as well as what strategies were being implemented to boost job creation in key sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.
”The Department has implemented a number of measures to help curb the unemployment challenge. The Department has provided in the last financial year, counselling to more than 357,000 work seekers, more than 116,000 work seekers were placed in employment opportunities,” Meth said.
She added that more than 1.1 million work seekers were registered during the last financial year, while the CCMA’s interventions helped save more than 47,000 jobs. Meth said the subsidy funding allocated by the National Treasury also created 1,215 work opportunities for people with disabilities, while the Labour Activation Programme of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) supported more than 174,000 participants and created 93,730 jobs.
On measures to ensure that companies comply with labour laws and protect workers’ rights, Meth said the department’s Inspection Services had conducted more than 309,000 inspections.
”Working with the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) and the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), the Department aims to create demand in key sectors, including manufacturing and agriculture, amongst others,” she added.
”The NPMN has created more than 96,418 employment opportunities during the last financial year. The Department has also introduced the National Labour Migration Policy and amendments to the Employment Services Act, that will create further employment opportunities for local South Africans”.
