Hands of Angels NPO (HoA) hosted an Employment Awareness Roadshow at Faith Temple Church in Ext 5, Eldorado Park, on August 20.

The initiative aimed to connect unemployed youth and community members with employment opportunities while giving them direct access to government departments and other stakeholders offering support services.

Representatives from the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), Absa and other stakeholders attended the event.

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DoEL officials assisted attendees to register their CVs on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system, enabling job seekers to be matched with vacancies in government departments and the private sector.

DoEL official Kalipa Bottoman encouraged residents to register their CVs even if they were unable to attend the roadshow.

“The Department keeps your CV on the ESSA system and matches it with available vacancies as they become available in government departments, the Department of Employment and Labour and the private sector,” she said.

She urged residents to register online at www.essa.labour.gov.za or visit their nearest labour centre for assistance.

The department also provided information on UIF benefits, registration requirements and payment processes.

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DoEL claims officer Reginald Jones explained that UIF benefits are determined by the number of credit days accumulated through contributions.

“If you have worked and contributed for four years or more, you qualify for the maximum of 365 credit days, which allows you to claim for up to 12 months,” he explained.

Jones also advised employees whose employers fail to register them for UIF to report the matter to labour inspectors.

“If an employer does not comply, labour inspectors investigate and enforce compliance. Employees will still receive the benefits linked to the contributions made on their behalf,” he said.

HoA chairperson Angus Mase described the roadshow as a success, with about 170 people attending.

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“We aim to bring services closer to the community so people don’t have to struggle to access them,” he said.

Mase said the organisation has hosted similar initiatives in the past and believes exposing residents to employment opportunities can help address some of the social challenges affecting Eldorado Park.

“If employment opportunities increase, many of the problems we face in our community can change,” he said.

He also appealed to the Department of Social Development to finalise the organisation’s funding application, saying HoA has complied with all the required documentation.

“We have our NPO certificate, compliance letter and operational space. We are still waiting for feedback on our funding application,” he said.

Community member Mitta Khiya, who attended the roadshow seeking assistance with her UIF claim, said the session answered her questions.

“I was very happy because they gave me valid answers,” she said.

Khiya explained that her UIF claim had been delayed after her employer’s HR department failed to submit the necessary declaration to the UIF.

She said the officials from the provincial office assisted in clarifying the matter and explained the next steps in resolving her claim.