JOBS GALORE

…Ramaphosa says public employment stimulus will create jobs ‘here and now’

JOHANNESBURG- Government will roll out an ambitious public employment programme as part of its efforts to revive SA’s economy in a way that is also inclusive, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Such public employment programmes have been adopted by several countries in the developing world such as India and Ethiopia, the president noted in his weekly newsletter. “We have to get as many of our people as possible working again,” he said.

Last week Ramaphosa unveiled his long-awaited economic recovery plan which aimed, among other things, to create and support over 800, 000 jobs in the short term as a response to severe job losses caused by the lockdown.

The  Presidential Employment Stimulus, released alongside the economic recovery plan, involves public investment of R100 billion over the next three years, he said.

Second quarter employment figures reflect that 2.2 million jobs were shed as a result of the lockdown – which affected those in the informal sector more harshly.

In his newsletter, Ramaphosa said public employment could create jobs at scale in the short term, while markets recover from the impact of the lockdown and create “social value.”

He referred to similar public works programmes undertaken by the US, after the Great Depression in the 1930s. “This was not just a stimulus, but also promoted social participation and inclusion,” said Ramaphosa.

The president said public employment programmes