NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 492
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 21 October 2011
Mr K A Sinclair (COPE-NC) to ask the Minister of Economic Development:
Whether the Government is putting any emergency measures in place to stem
job losses in the mining, manufacturing and construction industries
considering that 50 000 jobs were lost in August 2011; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details?
CW594E
REPLY
The latest QLFS for the period ending September 2011 indicates that the
economy created 343 000 new jobs over the past year. Nonetheless,
Government has been working with social partners to strengthen economic
performance in light of concerns about very slow growth in Europe and the
U.S. Efforts have centred on-
⢠Sustaining public investment at 9% to 10% of the GDP;
⢠Signing of the local procurement accord, on 31 October 2011, by
government, business and labour as part of efforts to increase jobs
and deepen industrialisation;
⢠Unblocking unnecessary obstacles to private investments brought about,
amongst others, by delays in regulatory authorisations and
infrastructure connections;
⢠Controlling unnecessarily high prices for inputs and consumer goods,
including as a result of administered prices as well as monopoly
action;
⢠Expanding industrial financing through the IDC; and strengthening
support for small and micro enterprise.
In addition to these priorities, on October 25, 2011, the Minister of
Finance announced in the MTBPS statement the creation of ââ¦a competiveness
support package of R25 billion over the next six years to boost industrial
development, assist enterprises and accelerate job creationâ. This
initiative will build on several broader programmes:
⢠Tax incentives for industrial investment,
⢠technology and training amounting to over R8 billion for recently
approved projects,
⢠Continuing investment in energy, water, transport and
communications
⢠and infrastructure,
⢠Improved incentives for investment in industrial development zones,
particularly where there is potential to participate in global
supply chains and to develop competitive logistics hubs,
⢠Regulatory and administrative reform to facilitate small business
development
⢠Support for black business development, including preferential
procurement and finance facilities,
⢠Encouragement of export diversification, including new trade
partnerships with fast-growing emerging economies
⢠Regional integration within sub-Saharan Africa, including
investment in a north-south transport corridor and administrative
reform of trade arrangements
⢠Support for job creation, training and community works projects
⢠Alignment of trade, investment and energy policies to support the
transition to a green economy, including private sector
participation in our renewable energy production programme.