NELSPRUIT – The provincial government says 174 718 work opportunities have been created through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) over the past five years. The nationwide programme is aimed at creating job opportunities for unemployed people in municipalities, provincial departments and non-profit organisations.
This was announced by the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT) during a three-day road show recently held within the various district municipalities. The main objective of the roadshow was to report back to all public sector bodies which include on the performance of the province on EPWP.
According to a report presented by the National Department of Public Works during the road show, the infrastructure sector created 74 364 jobs, the social sector 56 471 and the environmental and culture sector contributed 43 883 opportunities in phase two.
The EPWP was introduced in 2003. Phase two of the programme covers the five-year period from 2009-2014. The National Department of Public Works is expected to launch phase three of the programme later this year.
Youth employment and project based training will feature strongly in this phase. Mpumalanga is expected to create at least 187 394 jobs within this phase, which will be implemented under the theme, “EPWP changing many lives for the better”.
