1 FEBRUARY 2000
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs
MECs and provincial government officials
Trustees and representatives of the Business Trust
Representatives of the Hospitality Industry Training Board
Officials from the Departments of Labour and Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Members of the media
distinguished guests
ladies and gentlemen
A very good morning to you all on this occasion to launch the Tourism Learnership Project.
Faced by the challenge of unemployment, the participants in the Presidential Jobs Summit in October 1998 reached a common understanding that that we all have to combine our efforts to address the imperative of increasing the number of jobs created in the South African economy. The Jobs Summit initiated, amongst other things, a partnership between government and business to realize the tourism sector's great potential for growth and job creation. It was a partnership designed to enhance the relationship between the two sectors to the benefit of the economy and the people of our country.
The establishment of the Business Trust created an opportunity for business to demonstrate its commitment to job creation and the enhancement of human resources development. We are gathered here today to witness a clear illustration of this commitment with the launch of the tourism learnership project towards which the Trust will contribute R80 million. It is with a sense of great satisfaction that I would like to confirm that the Department of Labour has committed R35 million towards this project over the next four years. It is the translation of our vision into concrete partnerships like this one between the Business Trust and government that will pave the road to job creation and fighting poverty.
I think there is general agreement that the South African tourism industry has great potential for sustainable job creation over a relatively short period of time. In recognition of this opportunity, business and government are committed to ensuring that the full potential of this highly labour intensive industry is achieved. My Department has a particular interest in the success of this project and is determined to ensure that indeed it is effectively implemented. The reason for this is that it entails the development of learnerships that will link education and work experience in a structured approach that leads to portable qualifications within the National Qualifications Framework. This project will support the training of 5 000 unemployed learners and 10 000 current employees, of whom 5 000 will pursue new qualifications. The Department of Labour's contribution will focus mainly on the implementation of learnerships for the unemployed. Of great importance is the fact that the unit standards and qualifications generated through this project will enable the Sector to develop the capacity to ensure many more learners each year acquire National Qualifications on an ongoing basis.
Learnerships are a critical element underpinning the new Skills Development Strategy that is currently being developed by my department and social partners and this learnership project in the tourism sector will act as a pilot for the implementation of the Skills Development Act. The long-term benefits that will accrue as a result will therefore go beyond the tourism sector to inform the process of training through learnerships in other economic sectors. While on the topic of implementation, allow me to also use this opportunity to inform you that preparations for the introduction of the Skills Development Levy on 1 April of this year are well on course. I am sure that employers are looking forward to the opportunity to make a further contribution towards a better skilled South African workforce and a more productive and competitive economy.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the current contributors to the Business Trust. The fact that the main contributors to the Trust are not directly involved in the tourism industry implies that their decision to focus on tourism represents a genuine commitment to the specific objectives of the Jobs Summit and the overall national objectives of growth and employment creation. I hope there will be more opportunities like this in the future to further demonstrate a positive relationship between business and government. I would like to encourage those companies which are not yet part of this important Business Trust initiative to join the growing and essential partnership between business, government and indeed labour and to join hands with us to build a better life for all South Africans.
I thank you.