The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has adopted several employment generation initiatives with a view to promoting economic transformation and inclusive growth in the South African economy.
The work of the dtic and its agencies covers more than 1.28 million workers in the economy, representing approximately 1 in 8 private sector formal jobs in the economy.
These South African workers have been covered by a number of programmes of the dtic and its agencies, including 743 000 workers covered by actions across the seven Masterplans administered by the dtic.
Additional workers are covered by other programmes of the dtic and its agencies, including:
- the work of the competition authorities in market inquiries and merger proceedings;
- industrial funding and incentives from the dtic, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF);
- investment facilitation by InvestSA for the Presidential Investment Conferences and Special Economic Zones;
- work to support South Africans manufacturing through trade measures such as tariffs and rebates; and
- Market access facilitation for South African exporters.
- A further 50 000 jobs have been created through the Social Employment Fund, which is part of Presidential Employment Stimulus, administered by the IDC.
Minister Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition emphasised the importance of these initiatives, stating:
“Workers are at the centre of the programmatic work undertaken by the dtic and its agencies. The comprehensive work programme includes interventions to support 1.28 million workers across various sectors of the economy, from manufacturing, like the automotives industry, food and beverages, chemicals and steel, to productive services, like business process operators and film. This work extends across all nine provinces of South Africa, and further to the eight metropolitan and 44 district municipalities.”
Recently the dtic hosted two conferences, namely the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference held on 20 March 2024 and the Worker Share Ownership Conference held on 23 April 2024.
The Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference, in particular, highlighted the number of workers employed by black industrialists supported by the dtic and its agencies, with 161 300 workers employed in these companies. Notable too is the number of workers now covered by worker share ownership programmes, with 551 000 workers beneficiaries covered in these structures, many of which have come about as a result of agreements with the dtic and its agencies.
Minister Patel further emphasised:
“The industrial policy actions of the dtic and its agencies are fundamental to driving economic growth by fostering an environment where industries can thrive and jobs are created. In recent years, we have shifted our key performance indicators to a set of outcomes-based indicators, which don’t just measure the efforts of Government, but rather the fruits of our coordinated labour. This holistic approach ensures that our industrial policy approach becomes a cornerstone of a comprehensive, growth-oriented, job-rich, and inclusive economic strategy.”
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
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