Johannesburg - Partners at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) have thrown themselves into the challenge of finding solutions to the country’s ailng economy.
Government, labour, community and business at Nedlac’s annual summit on Friday highlighted the need for serious discussions and increased partnership on addressing the unemployment rate, which disproportionately affects youth.
This year’s summit theme is “rapid economic growth to create decent jobs”.
Read also: National minimum wage in pipeline - Ramaphosa
The business representative at Nedlac, Jabu Mabuza, said although Nedlac had achieved great strides in the amendment of labour legislation and moved forward with a discussion on a national minimum wage, the focus now had to shift to the economy.
Mabuza said to achieve Nedlac’s labour and job creation ambitions, answering the question of growth was crucial.
Similar sentiments were shared by labour representative Bheki Ntshalintshali, who lauded government’s plans on energy, the National Development Plan, and the nine-point plan, but noted that the unemployment rate still remained high.
Ntshalintshali said labour was looking forward to the job summit, which was scheduled to take place this year.
Community constituency representative Laura Kganyago said more funding should be shifted to giving young people entrepreneurial opportunities.
Kganyago said non-profit organisations were hugely underfunded and were in grave need of resources for communities to benefit.
Representatives said they hope the summit would provide needed solutions to job creation and rapid economic growth.
LABOUR BUREAU