LAUNCH OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT BILL ON SEPTEMBER 2

Issued by: Ministry of Labour

1 September 1997

Minister of Labour Tito Mboweni is launching the Skills Develop- ment Bill at a press briefing on Tuesday September 2 in Cape Town.

The Skills Development Bill is based on a Green Paper which the Cabinet approved on 19 March, as well as comments received from the public after about 4 500 copies of the Green Paper were distributed for public discussion.

The Bill was approved by the Cabinet on August 6 and will be submitted to Parliament later this year after its key proposals have been tabled for consideration in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

The Bill seeks to establish a high-quality education and training system that is cost-effective, accountable, meets training needs and which complements employment and economic growth.

To achieve this aim, the Bill provides for the following specific measures:

• a research and strategic planning unit to gather and disseminate information on labour market skills trends and promote planning for and prioritisation of skills development;
• employment services which will promote people's active participation in the labour market;
• learnerships and other training programmes which will result in registered qualifications signifying work readiness and which respond to the needs of the labour market;
• coordination of the skills development strategy through Sector and Education Training Authorities working with Education Training Boards, the National Skills Authority and the Minister of Labour; and
• financing of skills development.

Full details about the specific provisions of the Bill will be discussed with you at Tuesday's press briefing.

Details of the press briefing:

Date: Tuesday September 2 1997 Time: 11:00 to 12:30 Place: Small Auditorium (Ingwenyama) 120 Plein Street Cape Town (the Plein Street Entrance to 120 Plein Street)

Light refreshments will be served at the end of the briefing

For inquiries, contact Estelle Randall Ministerial Media Officer on 082 777 1745