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9 March 2006

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has lauded the Cabinet’s appointment of veteran unionist Gwede Mantashe to head the newly established Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa).

Jipsa is the skills empowerment arm of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgisa), a programme announced by President Thabo Mbeki during his State of the Nation Address in Parliament last month.

Driven by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Asgisa initiative is primarily aimed at accelerating the country’s economic growth to six percent.

Jipsa, in turn, aims to bring together social partners to act on immediate and medium term skills needs in the economy particularly high level and artisan skills.

Among the tactics that Jipsa is expected to utilise in turning the tide against the skills shortfall over the next 18 months are: special training programmes, luring back skilled South Africans now living abroad and bringing retirees back into the workforce.

Minister Mdladlana today (Thursday) commended the Cabinet’s appointment of Mr Mantashe to head Jipsa’s technical working group and for approving the composition of the body’s task team which will be chaired by Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and is consisting of representatives from diverse groupings such as government, youth, organised labour, academic institutions, gender, state owned enterprises and science councils.

Minister Mdladlana said he had no doubt the new structures would help enhance the government’s accelerated efforts to address the skills deficit, thereby increasing the availability of workplace expertise in various sectors.

“I’m also delighted at the Cabinet’s endorsement of integrating the needs of people with disabilities into Jipsa activities,” Minister said.

A business plan on Jipsa’s activities over the next 18 months to tackle the skills deficit is already in place.

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Issued by: Department of Labour
9 March 2006