‘Job creation’ often exploits the poor

Our government should take the creation of jobs part of the NDP seriously for the NDP dream to be realised.

The creation of 11 million jobs must not become just another pipe dream. I’m not convinced with this system of job creation in the form of projects that are not carefully monitored.

This system creates more and more unskilled, even fresh from school labourers who work three to six months a year.

This system is also allowing opportunistic, unscrupulous companies who are out to make money in the name of job creation to come and make a quick buck, always leaving poor people with no skills, insulting wages and sometimes end up failing to honour contracts.

Our government has an obligation to create decent jobs as it is outlined in the NDP and the Freedom Charter. Jobs that will also restore peoples dignity, especially the previously disadvantaged.

We cannot allow a situation whereby people live on a ‘half a loaf is better than nothing’ philosophy of days gone by.

Government must also make sure that companies who land contracts to develop communities are obliged to train and leave people with useful skills instead creating a pool of unskilled labourers waiting for the next project to come with R120 a day, which to me amounts to modern day slavery.

Force these companies to leave even bursaries for our youth for skills development. Create jobs, not a generation of shovel pushers and trench diggers. It’s not what we voted for.

NTOKOZO MCINEKA KA MAKAMU
Groutville