Fellow Members
It is quite interesting to follow the report as released and was privy to
attend the NALEDI/COSATU Seminar in which interactions ensued from Trade Unions
Affiliated to COSATU ,Media,Business and Civil Society Organizations.
The reports begs for more explanations to an ordinary person on the street;as
to how with the hardship we see in our communities;children-led
famalies,learners forced to qiut schooling due to lack of resources,migrant
labour pattern still devastate family set-up as parents work in the major
cities in the country,cost in education still inhibits the aspired free quality
public education ;How can we say Unemployment has dropped and Employment has
increased?
STATS SA says Unemployment rate is at 21,9% but we see many people still queing
for employment,young and Old??
A case in point is significant increase in the Manufacturing Sector;But our
take and every citizen's take is that we can't equate a person who survives on
baking fatcakes to be employed;a person crafting toys with iron to be
employed.The definition of manufacturing as per STATS SA is deceiving if not
confusing.However,we the misunderstanding STATS SA must come to the party and
explain how sustainable is the so-called manufacturing by such person(s) as it
is done for survival against harsh realities of sleeping wothout food on the
table.
Well,the argument advanced is that they are participating in the economy
through such activities but it is involuntary economic activity as a result of
poverty and inequalities that we still graple with as a country.
Maybe STATS SA must develop outreach programmes to advocate our understanding
of information collation,analysis and conceptualization of the report format to
make it user-friendly.Emanating from the discussions across civil society,it
became clear that we are still grapling with the STATS SA Reports.
The issue of regarding a person to be employed even if engaged for an hour is
quite disturbing and unacceptable.The hour work we think think will not even be
consumerate with a living wage,but this trend continues to entrench "Slaves
Wages" and this is against the same ideals and manifesto outlines of the ANC.We
need to interogate the 'hourly' assumption as it is misleading.
The critical aspect that is worth to be probed is on why Departments are having
high rate of vacancies;posts continues to be unfilled even if Collective
Bargaining Agreement states that after Six Months post should be
advertised.This has been an anomaly that the new admin must deal with.Working
together,we know we will deliver on this important aspect.
Comrades,we have not tackled the importance of statistics impact towards our
development and the earlier we rise to these challenging reports,the better
will use the statistics to our favour.
Working together will always bring the best out of our people.Creation of
Decent Jobs will make us move away from releases that suggest that "A Person
selling sweets at a corner of a township street is employed".
Mampane Norman
National Educator
POPCRU
(He writes is his personal capacity)
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