Training of unemployed youth is key to transforming exclusive sectors
THE training and up-skilling of unemployed black youth is critical for transforming sectors that are white dominated such as piloting, aviation and farming, said the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, recently.
The minister was speaking during the launch of training programmes that are funded by the Department of Labour’s Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to create jobs, boost skills and enable entrepreneurship for unemployed youth and UIF beneficiaries.
She stressed that in the past and in some cases today, various sectors like aviation and farming are still dominated by whites. She said it was against this background, that the UIF was funding predominantly black and young learners to be trained as pilots and organic farmers to transform the sectors and pave the way for more black pilots and farmers.
Oliphant revealed that the UIF had signed partnership agreements with various training providers and institutions to implement training for 3 000 learners under Umhlathuze Municipality, over the next few years.
The training will include various fields such as carpentry, maritime, water and sanitation. The training will include theoretical and practical training and learners will receive a monthly stipend during the training.
“Your training, once you are successful, will go a long way, in not boosting your skills but transforming the employment sectors that need transformation,” said Oliphant.
UIF commissioner, Teboho Maruping, said the UIF was funding the training through its Labour Activation Programme unit to create jobs; improve skills and enable entrepreneurship among unemployed youth and UIF beneficiaries in Umhlathuze and the rest of the country.
Ntokozo Zwane, a beneficiary, said that he and his peers excited to undergo the training. “We are extremely grateful. We certainly hope that the training will help us get jobs or start successful businesses.”
