Highest job cuts registered last year
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday May 5, 2017 14:58
It was revealed during the ongoing employment and skills development Pitso held here that the great majority of the retrenchments are attributed to the closure of the BCL Mine.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Pearl Ramokoka indicated that companies are continuing to issue notices of retrenchments and this paints a gloomy picture for employment and economic growth, hence the need to seriously engage employers and other stakeholders to address challenges causing closure of businesses and leading to job losses.
She highlighted that there is a decline in the formal sector employment. She also noted that the country has experienced high unemployment caused by mismatch of skills available to industry needs. She further said efforts to grow the economy face the challenge of being negated by continued low productivity levels of the labour force, declining employment in the formal sector, poverty and skills mismatch. She said this calls for the need to engage stakeholders in resolving challenges, which hamper progress.
Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi said Government believes in the provision of decent work and an employable workforce that possesses relevant skills that meet the market demands.
He noted that sub Saharan Africa continues to record strong growth rate despite infrastructural weaknesses and institutional challenges. “There is therefore a need for skills development to cater for this demand”, he said.
He added that productive employment and decent work are the foundation of improved livelihood of people around the world. He also emphasised that job creation has become a major part of government’s priority areas.
He said Government has adopted cluster development concept to develop competitive, diversified and sustainable economic growth.
These clusters include beef, mining, tourism and financial services. He said if implemented properly, these clusters could grow the country’s economy and employment in both the formal and informal sectors.
Masisi said this Ministry has formulated a robust mission statement to facilitate employment creation through the development of a globally competitive workforce, harmonious labour relations and a safe workplace for economic prosperity.
He also noted that Government is aware that vocational training must be high quality, accessible and effective.
“Re-skilling and lifelong learning are essential for job security, quality and productivity enhancement.
I therefore encourage all of you to build strong partnerships and continue investing in training the workforce,” Masisi told the Pitso.