382. Mr D B Feldman (COPE) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(1) Whether her department has achieved the number of labour
intensive challenges which were prioritised at the Job Summit in
June 2003 between the participating parties; if not, what is her
departmentâs position in this regard; if so, what are the
details in respect of (a) clothing and textiles industries and
(b) agriculture and agro-processing industries;
(2) Whether her department has developed any (a) concrete
programmes, (b) commitments and (c) timelines in this regard; if
not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Minister of Labour reply:
1) The Growth and Development Summit (GDS) Agreement of June 2003
does contain an agreement between the constituencies to develop
and implement strategies for the clothing and textiles and the
agriculture and agro-processing sectors. The government agreed
to convene a meeting twice a year of leaders of business and
labour in these and other sectors to review progress in
accelerating and unblocking investment, creating jobs, lowering
costs and improving efficiency, meeting critical skills needs
and increasing investment in research and development.
2) The implementation of the GDS agreements and commitments
relating to sectors was a collective responsibility of the
various lead government departments. At the time, these were
the Department of Trade and Industry in relation to sector
strategies for clothing and textiles and the Department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in relation to the
agricultural sector. The Department of Economic Development
has, more recently included sector jobs targets in specific
economic sectors in the New Growth Path. Various Accords have
been concluded as efforts to drive job creation initiatives. It
is suggested that these departments be contacted for the
relevant details.
3) Notwithstanding the above, the Department of Labour has,
through the South Africaâs response to the Global Economic
Meltdown of the 2008/9 made resources available to support the
Training Lay-off Scheme.
The Department through the Unemployment Insurance Fund has
initiated projects that are aimed at up-skilling workers for
early return to productive employment.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has also launched a Labour
Active Programme which focuses on supporting Labour intensive
projects.
The Department has ring-fenced a percentage of its investible
income, for Labour intensive investment projects through the
fund that are invested with the PIC and the DBSA.
END