Re: Job creation programme celebrates 25 years

Banner of the National Department of Labour together with the South African flag

13 November 2023

Date: Wednesday, 15 November 2023,

Time: 09h30 to 13h00

Venue: Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel & Convention Centre, Umhlanga Ridge

Please join Productivity SA in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its flagship programme, the Workplace Challenge Programme (WPC). The celebration will take place this Wednesday at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel & Convention Centre, Umhlanga Ridge.

During the 25 years, over 3000 companies participated in the WPC Programme, with about 33 000 jobs preserved and created. In the 2022/23 FY the programme supported 101 enterprises.

The commemoration will see a gathering of close to 100 distinguished guests, representing government entities, businesses, labour organisations, academic institutions, and other key strategic partners who have played an integral role in the success of the WPC throughout its 25-year journey.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Productivity SA, Mr Mothunye Mothiba, says “Productivity Improvement is the most effective way of ensuring long-term competitiveness, long-term business success, economic growth and, consequently, tackling the challenges of unemployment, poverty, inequality, and exclusion. Productivity leads to greater levels of economic growth, which consequently results in higher income levels and improved well-being of society at large”.

Productivity SA is an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour, established in terms of section 31 of the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, with the mandate to promote employment growth and productivity, thereby contributing to South Africa’s socio-economic development and competitiveness.

The programme will be as follows:

Opening

Programme Director: Ms Amelia Naidoo

Acting Executive Manager: Competitiveness Improvement Solution(CIS), Productivity SA

09:30 –09:35

Welcome Address

Dr Annaline Chetty

Acting Productivity SA Board Chairperson, Productivity SA

09:35 –09:50

WPC video

AV Presentation –25th Anniversary Video

09:50-10:00

WPC Companies

Journey

Msomi Engineering

The Blinds Syndicate

10:00 – 10:30

Panel discussion

Mr Nii Moi Thompson, ILO Programme Manager

Prof Barnes Sookdeo, Expert Committee Member

Mr Ridwan Peer, The Blinds Syndicate, Director

Mr Ashley Benjamin, General Secretary, FEDU

10:30 – 11:10

Mid-morning Tea break and Exhibition walkabout

(10 representing companies)

All

11:10 – 11:45

Guest Speaker MEC for Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Mr Siboniso Duma

11:45 – 12:05

Keynote Address Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Economic Development Department

12:05 – 12:35

Closing Remarks

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Productivity SA, Mr Mothunye Mothiba

12:55 – 13:00

For more information, please contact the Productivity SA media liaison office, Maupi Monyemangene, on 082 447 3232 (email: maupim@productivitysa.co.za)