NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION 79
WRITTEN REPLY
79. Mr W F Faber (DA-NC) to ask the Minister of Public Works:
1) Whether there are any contingency plans with regard to workers of
the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) after these projects
have been completed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(2) whether each of the provincial governments have any plans in place
to create long term sustainable employment in each province; if not,
why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CW123E
REPLY
(1) EPWP is designed to be a social safety net to cover people during
periods of unemployment and to provide work opportunities for those
who often have never had an opportunity to work. It is common
knowledge that the state should create the favourable conditions for
job creation on the broader economy. The only way the state can create
jobs is through the expansion of the civil service. Through the EPWP
the state however is consciously intervening on how it can deliver
needed infrastructure and social services and at the same time provide
opportunities for the unemployed to earn an income through productive
work by contributing to their communities. In some cases these jobs
are short in that they are the product of government designing
infrastructure projects in a way to increase labour rather than
through machine based technologies. It is however, the goal of the
EPWP that all possible projects where labour intensity can be
maximized is prioritised. This will allow people to be involved in the
numerous infrastructure projects that are implemented across the
country to address infrastructure backlogs.
In terms of the Exit Strategy afforded to National Youth Service and
Vukâuphile Programmes, contingency plans are made which are geared to
provide beneficiaries with opportunities after they exit from the
programmes. These opportunities include employment, further learning
and training, as well as small enterprise and co-operative
development. This is done by identifying those public institutions
that can provide these opportunities. For example, further education
and training FET colleges provide further learning opportunities where
bursaries are available.
(2) The National Department of Public Works has a National Exit
Frameworks which provides guidelines to all public bodies across
spheres of government implementing the EPWP.
EPWP is prioritising programmes that provide regular, predictable and
ongoing employment. The programme is expanding on maintenance
programmes that will provide ongoing employment in the infrastructure
sector. The Zibambele programme in KZN which is viewed as successful
case study is being replicated in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. The
roll out in other provinces is being pursued.
Also, in the social and environment and culture sectors many of these
programmes are ongoing since they provide needed social and
environmental services that are continuous and not time bound. The
roll out of the Community Work Programme is also being accelerated.
This is an innovative programme that involves local communities in
deciding the work that must be done and then selecting unemployed
member of the community who are guaranteed work for two days a week.