South Africa August 2006 |
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| Union slams foreign skills idea, (Sapa, 2006-08-29):-The trade union Solidarity has criticised comments by the Minister for Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, in Parliament on Tuesday that scarce skills should be imported. Sonjica pointed out that there were shortages of technical and specialised skills, like mining engineers. Shortages also exist in the chemical, electrical, mechanical and nuclear industries, as well as artisans, geologists and economists. "Big business has made a habit of importing skills with the assistance of government, and this while South Africa has to contend with a 40 percent unemployment rate and the Setas have millions of rands in unspent training funds," said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans. "The time has come for South Africa to cultivate a culture of self- sufficiency and to provide its own skills. Affirmative action has driven away many of the skills that are now in such great demand. "The problem is exacerbated by the inferior pay offered by companies for these skills. The trade union regularly encounters this attitude at wage negotiations," Kleynhans added. Solidarity objected earlier this year to Sasol's importation of 821 artisans to assist in maintenance work. The trade union has also established a training college, Sol-Tech, to provide skills training. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |