Mpumalanga DA raises concerns over employment equity of genders
Mpumalanga DA talks on unemployment issues comes after the the outcome released by Stats SA.
The Mpumalanga DA is concerned that men are more likely to be employed in many job sectors of the province than women, who are equally responsible for the well-being of destitute and vulnerable households.
In a media statement, it said based on information contained in a report titled “Women Empowerment, Gender Series Volume IX: 2017-2022” conducted by Stats SA, it was noted that the percentage of discouraged work seekers was significantly higher in women at 59.6% than in men, at 40.4%.
Bosman Grobler, DA spokesperson on finance and economic development, said the above-mentioned report further revealed that 41.2% of women in the province relied on social grants as a source of income in 2022.
“The above stats are concerning, taking into consideration that in the first quarter of this financial year, the provincial government created 1 383 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) jobs targeted at women, but they dismally failed to meet that target as a mere 61 employment opportunities were created.”
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According to him, between 2017 and 2022, Mpumalanga had the highest unemployment rate increase at 14%, compared to the rest of the country, which increased from 27.7% to 34.5%.
“This rising unemployment and job scarcity in turn resulted in discouraged work seekers who have given up looking for work, either because of a lack of suitable jobs, lack of skills, loss of hope for finding work or being unable to find work which requires his/her skill set.
“Given the above inadequacies and an inability to promote investor confidence over the past couple of years, the DA has written to the Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, requesting to find ways of forcing municipalities and departments to reach their targets of the EPWP so that women and people living with disabilities can be empowered to put food on the table.”
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This political party has also called on the premier to devise a strategy to deal with the increasing unemployment rate and the related gender inequality in the province.
