Minister and premier launch labour activations programmes in Mpumalanga

In a quest to create thousands of employment opportunities in the province, the minister of employment and labour, Thulas Nxesi, in partnership with the Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, launched 17 labour activation programmes (LAPs) at the Emnotweni Southern Sun Hotel on Wednesday April 24.

These launches formed part of a national roll-out plan to create more than 700 000 employment opportunities across the country.“We are here in Mpumalanga today to launch the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s [UIF] LAP-expanded plans to further strengthen employment creation, job preservation and demand-led training – all measures to mitigate unemployment in the country.

These LAPs were established in response to the economic downturn of 2008. The initiative was aimed at mitigating job losses through collaboration with partners at the National Economic Development and Labour Council,” said Nxesi.

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In Mpumalanga, 17 recommended project providers will benefit 20 115 unemployed people at a budget of R660m. The projects are launched in tranches as they have to go through the approval process and then be given the green light for implementation.

“For today’s launch in Mpumalanga, 11 out of the 17 have been approved. This will benefit 15 197 beneficiaries at a budget of R512m. The remaining six projects are still awaiting administrative and due diligence matters. Once that work is done, they will be subject to the approval process.

We anticipate this work to be done by the end of May. These projects will cover the agriculture, manufacturing, construction, ICT, hospitality, media and engineering sectors. Some of these programmes will develop entrepreneurs and also introduce them or link them to the market,” said Nxesi.

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Mtshweni-Tsipane said as the province they are concerned with the increase of youth unemployment.

“As a result of this, we came up with initiatives – about 21 programmes that we are implementing. We will bring our youth on board in terms of skills development and also to create opportunities for them to create jobs and be the employers of choice. We are delighted that we have partnered with the Department of Labour to launch the skills revolution and jobs initiatives.”

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Chantel Mashaba is a beneficiary and a farmer based in Bushbuckridge. She started farming in 2019. “I did not even have an academic record that was valid, because it was blocked as my fees were not paid by NSFAS. I went onto the internet and I found out about the UIF and how they are helping people.

I took my chance and applied for it and I got my funding. It helped me drastically and also opened doors for me that I never thought would be opened. I am now supplying Pick n Pay and SPAR with vegetables that are in season. A week ago I supplied them with butternuts. The UIF really helped me, ” she explained.