The Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, will on Monday, 17 September 2018, officially launch training programmes aimed at creating jobs in the aviation, maritime commercial diving and agricultural sectors.

The projects are being undertaken through a partnership agreement between the Dr John Langalibalele Dube Institute (JLDI) and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), an entity of the Department of Labour. The UIF, through its Labour Activation Programmes (LAP) has set aside R22 million for the three projects for beneficiaries – most of which are former contributors to the UIF who lost their jobs – to undergo theoretical and practical learnerships in aviation, maritime commercial diving and organic farming.

At Durban’s Virginia Airport, 50 beneficiaries will undergo an intensive pilot training which includes night rating, commercial pilot license, instrument rating, general radio license, and instructors rating.

The maritime commercial diving project in Scottsburg, south of KwaZulu-Natal, targets 50 beneficiaries to be trained on scuba diving, underwater welding, plumbing, photography and filmmaking, amongst others. In Emandungeni, 100 rural women will be trained and grouped into a cooperative to plant and grow organic fruit and vegetables. The main market of their produce is major chain stores and some have already shown interest in procuring the produce of the project.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Day 1 (Monday 17 September 2018)

Media briefing and official launch

Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Venue: Virginia Airport in Durban North

Day 2 (Tuesday, 18 September 2018)

Time: 11:00am

Venue: Emandungeni Tribal Office

NB: Transport will be available on the 17 and 18 September departing from Durban City’s Hall on Anton Lembede Street. Journalists who require transport are urged to submit confirmations to Lungelo Mkamba on lungelo.mkamba@labour.gov.za or 079 889 0719.

Issued by:
 
Sithembele Tshwete
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry of Labour
071 675 9849
Sithembele.tshwete@labour.gov.za