Productivity leads to growth

● Mandated to develop productivity competencies and competitiveness in workplaces to promote employment and income growth, Productivity SA contributes to SA’s socioeconomic development and competitiveness. It is a department of employment & labour entity established in terms of section 31 of the Employment Services Act. Its forerunner was the National Productivity Institute.

The past four years have not been plain sailing, said outgoing chair Mthunzi Mdwaba, speaking at the Productivity SA annual general meeting in Midrand on October 11.

The outgoing board operated in “stormy waters”. Mdwaba said SA’s high unemployment rate, at 29%, is disheartening. The board’s four-year term ends at the end of November. He was encouraged that SA’s competitiveness had improved from 67 to 60 on the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index 2019.

“After 50 years of existence, Productivity SA is destined to lead economic growth driven by productivity,” said Mdwaba.