Company Announcement - According to statistics, South Africa has a shortfall of about 40 000 qualified artisans against the annual production rate of 13 000 qualified artisans. The artisan skills shortage is widely regarded as a key obstacle to economic growth, job creation and business expansion. Mercy Sekano, Executive Director of the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre (EBMTC), sees skills development for artisans as an opportunity to create jobs and to train shop stewards.  As a result the EBMTC is proactively planning an FET training school for artesian skills. In 1993 The National Union of Mineworkers National congress adopted a resolution to establish a non-profit training centre (EBMTC) which is a vehicle for training and development of steward and leadership. Over the years the centre has been a success and the training centre has applied of FET status to train artisans.

The EBMTC is a beneficiary of the Mineworkers Investment Trust (MIT). They have one mission – to improve the quality of life of their beneficiaries. The EBMTC is not the only beneficiary. The JB Marks Education Trust Fund (JB Marks), Mineworkers Development Agency (MDA) and the Sam Tambani Research Institute (SATRI) are also supported by the income generated by the MIT to provide financial assistance for various projects conducted in association with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).  The projects are designed to uplift and improve the quality of life of members, ex-members, their families and their communities. The goals of the MIT include development to grow capacity of individuals, communities and organisations, education for the acquisition of knowledge and training and skills acquisition.

“We expect to be granted FET status early in 2015. This will enable EBMTC to train artisans and shop stewards to provide them not just with a skill but with a formal understanding of labour relations and human resources,” says Sekano.

For the South African mining sector to remain competitive it needs to focus closely on skills development, especially in areas where there are glaring skills shortages. It is clear that there is a gap in artisan training. This became evident after apprenticeships were dissolved and private providers have had to try and fill the gap for bulk of training,” he explained. The EBMTC has formally recognised this problem. “We are planning to assist with the supply of artisan-type skills that are required for the mining industry to secure the future of mining by producing artisans with a formally recognised qualification.

Job growth in terms of artisans has occurred mainly in the informal sector of the economy (one reason for this is the increasing use of casual labour). Around a third of all related trade workers are employed as metal, machinery and related trades but few have formal qualifications.

South Africa’s shortage of skills, especially artisans, is largely responsible for the country’s ongoing failure to achieve its targeted growth rate. “We want to close this gap by training artisans who will qualify with a formal qualification.  “We need to professionalise careers as welders, fitters and turners.  This will help us to curb illegal strikes because many of these artisans will become shop stewards in the future and will have the advantage of understanding labour law.”

“Many employers can’t employ informal workers due to the lack of technical competencies and experience. At EBMTC we plan to change this perception. It is also important for organisations to contribute to building skills, through increased training and development of both existing and potential employees,” concludes Sekano.