The government wants to create 7.5m work opportunities between 2014/15 and 2018/19 under Phase Three of its Expanded Public Works Programme, which was approved at a Cabinet meeting this week.
Lindiwe Sisulu says the Expanded Public Works Programme will create 7.5m jobs. Image: GCIS
The Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Presidential Public Employment Co-ordinating Commission to co-ordinate and report on public employment programmes. The work of the commission will be aligned with that of the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission.
"The current economic downturn has negatively impacted on employment in the country and has increased the importance of the Expanded Public Works Programme as a major government initiative for contributing to development and reducing unemployment‚" Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said.
Cabinet noted the adoption of the recommendations of the social protection floor by the International Labour Organisation and approved its tabling in Parliament for ratification.
"The social protection floor approach is an integrated set of social policies designed to guarantee income security and access to essential social services for all‚ paying particular attention to vulnerable groups and protecting and empowering people across the life cycle‚" Sisulu said.
Cabinet also gave its approval for SA hosting the fourth Brics International Competition Conference in 2015.
The conference‚ which takes place every two years‚ brings together representatives from the competition authorities and non-governmental advisors from Brazil‚ Russia‚ India‚ China and SA.
Sisulu said the meeting would strengthen institutional links that would lead to better international co-operation between Brics members.