Call for public and private sector to join forces
TURBULENT economic conditions the world over, the slowdown in demand for products and services from the Western economies and the limping Chinese economy, among other factors, have contributed immensely towards the current state of South Africa’s economy which has bled millions of jobs across the many industry sectors.
Transman Chief Executive Officer Angela Dick is calling “for urgent and drastic measures to be taken by Government and the business community to turn the tide and create much-needed employment, especially among the country’s youth.
“We, for example, are well poised to work with the numerous stakeholders to come up with sustainable solutions. These would create jobs for the unemployed men and women and enable businesses to grow and be sustainable in the long-term. Nothing pains me more than seeing people standing by the side of the road and begging for jobs.”
She adds that it was the desperate look on their faces that drove her to establish the company 33 years ago. “Now South Africa’s largest independent private employment service provider, Transman has grown in leaps and bounds from its inception. We have even been responsible for changing labour legislation to better protect temporary employees in Industry.
“Despite the often harsh and constraining operating environment that has seen many businesses cease to exist, our expertise in flexibility has overcome such impediments. We have grown from placing one person in employment to as many as 10 500 on any given day in every industrial and commercial environment across South Africa.”
In addition to employing 240 full-time employees, Transman has also placed more than three million employees in numerous job categories since its inception and its CEO has been honoured with numerous awards. This includes recent recognition as one of the Global Top 100 Most Influential Women in Emerging Economies.
She will also receive the USA Congressional Commendation Award, as well as the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development Global Inspirational Women Leadership Award (2016) on 13 December in Dubai.
Angela attributes her success to the passion she has for the industry, the country and her people: “At Transman, we are driven to see all South Africans living decent lives, which is almost always enabled by being employed and earning a decent wage. My ultimate dream is to see every family well-provided for.”
It is, she adds, against this backdrop that the company was at the forefront of innovation when it came to ensuring that in 1989 the South African labour legislation was changed to provide for temporary and contract workers. At the time the first Provident Fund was also designed for flexible employees.
Angela says Transman recognises and actively promotes the national skills development strategy for its placed staff to ensure their upliftment, financial security and the economic growth of South Africa.
Over the years it has, in conjunction with its clients, trained thousands of placed staff in many different skill areas required by various industries and product lines. They are, for example, trained to use ancillary equipment and improve their skills for useful employment. Placed staff are also encouraged to study through the various sector education training authorities.
“We are also able to assist with the logistics of arranging national training on behalf of our clients. With many years of experience, we have arranged conference venues and buses from a variety of areas in South Africa to central points. We also offer our own fleet of vehicles for collecting and ferrying our people to conference and training venues.”
Commenting on unscrupulous TES providers that exploit the placed workers, she says the entire industry should not be painted with the same brush as the “bakkie brigade” responsible for committing those despicable acts.
“It has been proven that our industry has an enormous role to play in finding and developing solutions that benefits both employers and employees, especially during such tough economic conditions, We must make and utilise every opportunity to secure the wellbeing and security of all our peoples,” she concludes.