Free State residents will be trained in various trades, including plumbing, building construction, environment and assistant chef roles.

This initiative is the provincial government’s project to contribute to sustainable job creation, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana announced the placement of 2,000 UIF Labour Activation Programme (LAP) participants in various municipalities, provincial departments, and private institutions.

Premier Dukwana addressing the LAP beneficiaries. Picture: Facebook/Free State Provincial Government

The announcement by the Premier to place the beneficiaries in various municipalities took place in Welkom on Thursday (16/5) to ensure the skills of these beneficiaries contribute to the economy. Thousands of beneficiaries gathered at the Thabong Far East Multi-Purpose Centre for the announcement of the placement of the beneficiaries.

The launch of the provinces’ “Hela Yalo Ka Spane” under the Labour Activation Programme is aimed at maximizing government spending and eliminating duplication.

“The Labour Activation Programme remains a crucial programme in mitigating job losses and fostering economic growth. The programme empowers employers and individuals while contributing to a more resilient labour market,” said Premier Dukwana.

“With your skills, you have the potential to become employers yourselves. Your placements should serve as motivation to strive for greater success and contribute to sustainable job creation,” he said when addressing the LAP beneficiaries.

The MEC of Economic Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Destea), Thabo Meeko, revealed that an R38 million investment has been made to train these 2,000 young people in a variety of skills.

Beneficiaries at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Welkom. Picture: Facebook/Free State Provincial Government

“We are here to launch the UIF LAP expanded plans to further strengthen employment creation, job preservation and demand-led training, those are the measures to mitigate unemployment in the country,” said Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi.

“We are not training for the sake of training we are saying it must be demand-led because when we are training young people in the ICT sector we are talking about the skills of today. When we are training young people in agricultural projects to do things for themselves we are talking about food security.”

Additionally, the Premier announced that 34,000 jobs would be created through various projects, providing individuals with employment options.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg