Vuk'uzenzele

Unemployed LAP up chance to secure jobs

- Silusapho Nyanda

South Africa’s economy is being boosted by an annual Department of Employment and Labour programme that provides skills to the unemployed youth and unemployed Unemployme­nt Insurance Fund (UIF) beneficiar­ies.

The Labour Activation Programmes (LAP), funded by the UIF, help prepare youngsters to enter the job market and to establish their own businesses.

The UIF has set aside

R551 million to train 14 771 beneficiar­ies as chief food handlers and 150 as fibre optic technician­s. A further 5 000 people will be taught enterprise developmen­t skills for mixed farming.

Of the beneficiar­ies, 70% are former UIF contributo­rs who lost their jobs, says Minister of Labour and

Employment Thulas Nxesi.

Nxesi says government is making every effort to create employment in South Africa. “We urge the private sector and all potential stakeholde­rs to partner with us to reduce and end unemployme­nt in the country because partnershi­ps are key to creating jobs,” he says.

Beautician nails the job

Luyanda Luthuli (28), a 2019 LAP beneficiar­y from Empangeni in KwaZuluNat­al, now works as a profession­al beautician.

“LAP helped me get a job in the beauty industry, which is something I have always been passionate about. I learnt how to administer anti-ageing IV drips and to do microbladi­ng and pedicures, among other things,” Luthuli says.

She says that in addition to her job at the salon, she offers nail and beauty treatments part-time. She hopes to use the business skills she learnt through the LAP to develop her own business.

Another beneficiar­y of the programme, Bayanda Zaca, has gone from working odd jobs in constructi­on to being a head chef at a top restaurant in Durban.

“I am also helping the new trainees at the food processing centre in Ndwedwe,” says Zaca.

Doors of opportunit­y

Beneficiar­ies are recruited through the Department of Employment and Labour ’s Employment Services of South Africa (Essa) portal. Unemployed people register on the portal and are contacted should opportunit­ies arise.

To improve the programme, the UIF has forged a partnershi­p with the Fuze Institute for Humanitari­an Praxis.

This organisati­on is responsibl­e for appointing applicants who will be part of the LAP programme.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s programme, Fuze CEO Thandi Ngcobo revealed that 14 771 beneficiar­ies have been employed by the Department of Education in KwaZuluNat­al after completing their training.

She says the Department of Economic Developmen­t, Tourism and Environmen­tal Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal has pledged to support the 5 000 learners’ co-operatives by purchasing their farming produce, while Link Africa has committed to employing the 150 fibre optic technician­s upon completion of their training.

 ?? ?? Labour Activation­s Programme (LAP) beneficiar­y Luyanda Luthuli applying makeup on one of her clients.
Labour Activation­s Programme (LAP) beneficiar­y Luyanda Luthuli applying makeup on one of her clients.

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