The Department of Labour’s Productivity SA has shared its vision on recent achievements to create jobs.
The organisation, which was established in terms of section 31 of the Employment Services Act, revealed on Wednesday that it has made strides toward shared goals of driving productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth in the country.
Productivity SA board chairperson, professor Mthunzi Mdwaba, said the organisation carries the responsibility to fulfil an economic mandate to promote employment growth and productivity, thereby contributing to socio-economic development and competitiveness.
“The entity plays a pivotal role in creating an enabling environment for competitive and sustainable enterprises that create sustainable value,” said Mdwaba.
“Our mission remains steadfast and we have made significant strides in fulfilling our commitment to improving the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises, particularly small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) in South Africa.”
He added that Productivity SA has dedicated a lot of effort to ensure adherence to highest governance and regulatory standards, with an unqualified audit opinion over the past decade.
“This was achieved whilst at the same time delivering on the expanded mandate of the Department of Employment and Labour by enabling job-creation and enhancing South Africa’s productivity.
“The board has diligently ensured the alignment of Productivity SA’s annual performance plan [APP] with this overarching mandate and strategic vision.”
He said in pursuit of the employment growth agenda, Productivity SA has also aligned its enterprise development and support programme interventions to other government programmes.
“[These] include the national development plan and the economic reconstruction and recovery plan to create a positive impact on the long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth of South Africa,” he said.
Based on the organisation’s APP results for the 2022/23 financial year, Productivity SA stands at a formidable 92% achievement, which is a significant improvement from 75% in 2021/22 and 67% in 2020/21.
“Pursuant to ensuring the continuous creation of new jobs and growth opportunities for our people, we are obliged in our resolve to leverage on innovation, technology and novel approaches to keep up with the demands for jobs in the country.
“The viability of some job-creation innovations and initiatives, especially those with novel approaches, can only be tested once they have been implemented, and this should not make them any less worthy of being given an opportunity.”
Through its work and innovative planning, the entity has during the 2022/23 financial year helped 4 364 SMMEs, entrepreneurs, workers and managers through capacitating on productivity tools and trained on competitiveness improvement initiatives.
Its workplace challenge programme, funded by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, has supported 100 of the enterprises, where 64% are black-owned.
In the same strategy of helping businesses, 65% of the enterprises have part or full women ownership, and 27% of the businesses have part or full youth ownership, in which over 3 241 jobs were preserved through these interventions.
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