ANC proposed job seekers grant

President Jacob Zuma stands behind the ANC's centenary flame at the opening of the party's national policy conference in Midrand on Tuesday, 26 June 2012. Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

President Jacob Zuma stands behind the ANC's centenary flame at the opening of the party's national policy conference in Midrand on Tuesday, 26 June 2012. Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Published Jun 29, 2012

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Johannesburg -

A job seekers grant would open up the job market, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

The African National Congress president said the ANC and its alliance partners needed to work together to create decent jobs that would grow the economy.

This would be part of going into the second phase of the transition, Zuma said in his closing address at the ANC's policy conference in Midrand, Johannesburg.

Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile said on Thursday the youth subsidy had been rejected by delegates.

“In the commission there was no support for the youth subsidy as initially proposed. We have proposed the job seekers grant, which is different from the youth subsidy,” he told reporters.

He said the criticism around the youth subsidy was that money was being given to employers on the promise that they would employ young people.

This would be like “throwing money down the drain”.

“Of course 1/8the grant 3/8 is something that will be discussed further with other stakeholders, but that idea has been supported and we will be developing it further.

“It is not giving job seekers money but is putting these resources into situations where young people get trained and prepared for employment opportunities,” said Mashatile. - Sapa

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