Solidarity trade union has slammed the Department of Labour's (DOL) national skills database, saying the approach by the minister poses a threat to SA's labour market.
According to Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans, forcing companies to register employees by using legislation can only harm the job market. "We are worried that, by fixing the current situation, the minister will just be creating another problem."
Labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana announced in October that the DOL intended to implement a mass employment database, and that the department was in the process of developing regulations that would compel employers to register all vacancies and job placements.
Mdladlana said such a process would enable government "to systematically deal with the scarce skills issue... in that the skills base and gaps of the South African workforce would be available in one central database".
The database would also enable the department to assess employment and unemployment trends, as well as identify sectors where jobs need to be created, he said.
However, Solidarity is adamant this process will hinder skills placement in SA. "By over-regulating the market, the DOL will prevent international investment. It will also prevent companies from hiring, in and attempt to avoid the administration of registering."
Free will
In response to the DOL's regulated database, Solidarity has implemented its own skills register. The database cost the union between R10 000 and R15 000 to implement.
"Instead of compelling companies to register vacancies, as suggested recently by the labour minister, Solidarity will create a list of skilled individuals available in the labour market," says Solidarity deputy general-secretary Dirk Hermann.
The skills register will enable the trade union to compile more reliable statistics and assist in determining training needs in the South African labour market, says Hermann. "Solidarity has doubts about the practicability of the DOL's services database and fears that it will simply turn into yet another white elephant."
Kleynhans says the union's database is in still in its fledgling phase. "We will need at least tens of thousands of people to register to make it statistically viable. We need to track skills, both geographically and in terms of capacity, to help understand exactly how to approach the skills crisis."
Employees can register on Solidarity's skills register by sending an SMS, containing the words "Get my Solidarity" to 33003. The system responds by sending three questions, which need to be answered before employees are registered. Alternatively, registration can be accessed on the union's Web site.
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