Newly Appointed Minister Nomakhosazana Meth: Stepping Up to Tackle Labour Challenges

Cape Town — The recently appointed Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has described her department’s mission as a “mammoth task,” emphasising its critical role in driving substantive positive change and hope for South African citizens. Addressing a Ministerial Committee meeting held to welcome new principals and present the department’s programme, Meth laid out a comprehensive strategy for the department’s objectives.

Unpacking the Department’s Programme

Joined by Deputy Ministers Phumzile Mgcina and Jomo Sibiya, the newly-formed leadership team met with key figures in the department, including Acting Director-General Onke Mjo and Deputy Director-Generals. Heads from essential entities like the Compensation Fund (CF), Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Supported Employment Enterprises (SEE), and others, also attended the meeting.

The Triple Challenge

Minister Meth identified the persistent triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality as paramount issues requiring immediate attention. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Quarter 1 of 2024, South Africa’s official unemployment rate stands at 32.9%, with the expanded unemployment rate hitting a staggering 41.9%.

“The picture becomes dire when it comes to the youth unemployment rate, with youth aged 15–24 years standing at 59.7% and youth aged 25–34 years at 40.7%. These statistics should remind us that the stakes are still high, and we must hasten to strengthen the implementation of interventions to dent the unemployment rate,” said Meth.

A Collaborative Mechanism for Change

Minister Meth maintained that achieving substantive results will require an intensive, collaborative approach. “Through a mechanism that will propel all of us to realise the department’s objectives, we can genuinely make a difference,” she asserted.

Priorities for the Seventh Administration

Meth outlined six critical priorities guiding the department’s mandate:

1. Put South Africa to work.
2. Build our industries for an inclusive economy.
3. Tackle the prohibitive cost of living.
4. Invest in people.
5. Defend democracy and advance freedom.
6. Better Africa and the World.

“These priorities must find expression in the work of the Department of Employment and Labour family,” said Meth.

Implementation and Enforcement

The department aims to create and sustain 2.5 million work opportunities, implement a cross-cutting industrial strategy for growth, tackle poverty through social security and basic services, and enforce compliance with the National Minimum Wage across all applicable industries.

Meth emphasised the department’s responsibility to ensure safe workplaces, manage compliance with employment law, and strengthen international and regional relations. “Our seventh administration aims to shift gears and embrace the principles brought about by the Government of National Unity (GNU),” she added.

District Development Model (DDM)

The District Development Model aims to improve government service delivery through 44 districts and eight metros, serving as centres for job creation and economic development. “Active and impactful participation in the DDM will expand our reach,” stressed Meth.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Engagement

Meth also highlighted the department’s role at the International Labour Organization (ILO) as vital for building a better Africa and world.

In closing, Minister Meth called for “active and impactful participation” to ensure that the department meets its ambitious goals, stating, “Ours is to ensure we shift gears and embrace the opportunities ahead.”