A critical evaluation of training within the South African national public works programme

Abstract

This article explores the ability of the training and work experience offered under public works programmes to promote employment in South Africa. Public works are a key component of South African labour market policy and are ascribed considerable potential in terms of addressing the core challenge of unemployment. However, despite this policy prominence, the labour market impact of the training component of such programmes has not been studied systematically in South Africa, from either a theoretical or empirical basis, and this article attempts to provide an initial critique of the programme from both perspectives. This article outlines the unemployment situation in South Africa and the training component of the government's national public works programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), which was developed to enhance workers' skills and labour market exposure, and thereby improve their subsequent employment performance. Theoretical and empirical arguments are used to develop a critique of the training component of the programme, and the article concludes by arguing that, as currently conceptualised, the national public works programme is unlikely to have a significant impact on skills development or unemployment, due the structural nature of unemployment, excess supply of low and unskilled labour, and the high skills growth strategy adopted by government.

A critical review of the National Skills Development Strategy in South Africa

“…Clearly, some of the 18.2 Learners found permanent jobs with employers, but evidence emerging from recent studies suggests that many 18.2 workers remain unemployed after training (Marock 2007, 12). McCord (2008) argues similarly with regard to short training courses offered by the Expanded Public Works Programme, in particular, the difficulties of supply-led initiatives in attaining sustainable employment for beneficiaries in schemes which are not linked to specific employer needs. Similarly, Grawitzky (2006) suggests that the bulk of Learnerships offered have been at NQF Levels 1 and 2 (entry-level skills), and most of these beneficiaries have not found sustainable employment.…”

Incoherence in the South African labour market for intermediate skills

“…Clearly, some of the 18.2 learners found permanent jobs with employers, but evidence emerging from recent studies suggests that many 18.2 trainees remain unemployed after training (Marock 2007, 12). McCord (2008) argues convincingly about the difficulties of supply-led initiatives in attaining sustainable employment for beneficiaries in schemes which are not linked to specific employer needs. Similarly, Grawitzky (2006) argues that the bulk of Learnerships offered have been at NQF levels 1 and 2 (entry-level skills), and most of these beneficiaries have not found sustainable employment.…”

Nurturing Adaptive Governance Through Environmental Monitoring: People, Practices, Politics in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa

“…Skills development is a stated aim of all EPWP projects, but they have also been frequently criticized for their limited success in this regard (e.g., Mccord, 2005). Indeed, it is arguably the enactment of the EM program through the networks (and with the coordination of) the K2C that has strengthened the skills development and training component in this case.…”