02 Feb 2017

- Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo on January 30 took his ministry to the people to introduce and take suggestions for improved service delivery.
The minister  told Mogoditshane residents that following Cabinet reshuffle recently, he was redeployed to the new ministry hence the need to start consulting the public on services offered by his ministry for appreciation.
He also noted the importance of educating the public about the ministry’s services.
The minister said his ministry was mandated to make sure that labour productivity was enhanced across all sectors.
Mr Mabeo further informed residents that skills and development component which was part of the then ministry of education was now under his new ministry.
 “My ministry will also look into different areas of employment and advice accordingly where new skills are needed, then perhaps they can recommend for retooling exercises in order for staff to acquire new skills to stay competent,” he said.
He said the ministry would also deal with issues of labour and social security and occupational health among others noting that it was the responsibility of this new ministry to make sure that they took care of issues of health and safety in the work place as well.
The Minister further informed residents that Madirelo Training and Testing Centre was also under his ministry because the centre deals with vocational skills which his ministry was now promoting.
“This is to enable many locals to create their own businesses with various vocational skills they acquire from these institutions,” the minister said.
The minister also brought to light that some labour laws have been amended such as the Trade dispute act to speed up case resolutions.
When responding to the minister’s comments, a resident Ms Petronella Modisane expressed concern about small businesses in the village trading illegally ,saying most of them were run by foreigners.
Another resident, Mr Mmipi Kgosiyamasarwa told the minister that there was a worrisome trend in Mogoditshane of lack of attendance of kgotla meetings by residents.
 He said issues that the minister addressed directly affected many people including those who resided in Mogoditshane. He said this was because most of them did business in the village and were not immune to labour issues.
He advised government to ensure that public officers worked in a better environment in order to be productive citing the Mogoditshane police station which he said was in a bad state.
Meanwhile MP for Mogoditshane Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba advised the minister to urge councils to start providing Ipelegeng workers with protective clothing.
The MP also stated that acceleration of vocational training was necessary as Mogoditshane was populated with businesses specialising in various vocations . ENDS