Durban - Job seekers will no longer have to pay expensive data fees to internet cafe owners to search online for jobs after the eThekwini municipality this week launched a free Human Resource Centre of Excellence.
Opened by eThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo, the centre will provide computer terminals and free internet to the city’s unemployed, so that they can search for jobs.
With free Wifi and over 50 computers, the centre, in addition to training municipal staff on performance management, will offer an employee self-service and electronic recruitment system.
Nxumalo said the centre would transform the lives of Durban’s unemployed, and push job searching into the digital age.
“The centre is to provide internal and external users with an enabling technology environment. It is also a starting point for free Wi-Fi to our city”, he said.
Nxumalo said he was proud to launch the centre as it was the second computer lab launched in the city this year.
In March a computer lab was launched in Pinetown.
“We will continue launching labs in different parts of eThekwini” said Nxumalo.
Nxumalo said he hoped that the computer labs would assist in eradicating unemployment.
Deputy city manager for human resources at the eThekwini municipality, Dumisile Nene, said: “With 50 computers set up in the walk-in centre, officials will be able to access internal applications like the employee self-service module, the time management module as well as performance management, while external customers will be able to apply for jobs online using the e-Careers module.”