“THE government wants to focus on job creation, not spend time debating whether it is worthwhile creating jobs that do not meet certain standards”, says Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant.
Her comments reinforce those last week of African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who said demanding that new jobs should be decent was ‘putting the cart before the horse’ — a departure from President Jacob Zuma ’s promise in 2009 that the ‘creation of decent work will be at the centre of our economic policies’.”
Read or download the complete article by Alistair Anderson on the Business Day website:
Here is a further extract concerning the Department’s strategic plan:
“Ms Oliphant told the conference her department had adopted eight strategic objectives to guide its plans and activities over the next five years, starting this year.
She said the department
- should contribute to employment creation;
- review amendments to labour laws;
- promote equity in the labour market;
- protect vulnerable workers;
- strengthen social protection;
- promote sound labour relations;
- strengthen the capacity of labour market institutions; and
- strengthen institutional capacity.
The department would also aim to create a policy framework to promote decent work, and another for the provision of public employment services, she said”.