SA Job Seekers demand GNU initiate job summit
SA Job Seekers Movement has launched a programme of action to address the country's crippling unemployment crisis.
The SA Job Seekers Movement has called on all political parties that contested the 2024 national elections, including the Government of National Unity (GNU) and Progressive Caucus to initiate a national job summit.
The movement’s president Mush Raletjena said as the GNU took shape, various sectors have expressed their positions, and believe it is crucial to represent job seekers’ interests.
“We acknowledge the collaborative efforts of organisations working together under the GNU and the formation of the Progressive Caucus as an opposition block.
“This year marks 30 years of democracy and unemployment continues to be a major frustration for many South Africans. Following the recent national elections, where no party secured an outright majority, we witnessed parties forming alliances,” Raletjena said.
The movement is also calling on civil society organisations, labour unions and business leaders to join forces with them in demanding the summit.
ALSO READ: Alex job seekers take to streets in search of jobs
“We believe that by working together, we can achieve far more than we could alone. Our motto, ‘United, we will win’, reflects our belief in the power of unity.
“The Department of Employment and Labour must clarify its role in addressing unemployment by December. We demand the summit clarifies the unemployment aspect of the department’s mandate, as it still operates largely like the former Department of Labour.”
Raletjena added they would launch a job portal together with stakeholders which will be presented at the summit.
“This aims to provide a centralised platform for job applications, and standard job requirements, and streamline the process for job seekers.
“Our programme of action for the year 2024 includes the national job summit, which will start in December, the provincial job summit from September to November, and the job seekers survey from August till September.”
He said the job seekers survey would be conducted through their job portal, community meetings, and door-to-door campaigns.