Cleaning industry jobs presents a great step to tackle the unemployment crisis
JOBURG – Cleaning services are a great starting point to upskill unemployed youth.
Every year matriculants have to decide whether they will go through the route of higher education if they were able to make it or enter the job market.
The unemployment rate in South Africa currently is 29.1 per cent according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) and 15 to 34-year-olds account for 63.4 per cent of the total number.
Cathy Viriri, servest national operations director of Cleaning Division said, “There is a need to explore opportunities in which to absorb these young people into the work environment. The cleaning industry is one of the country’s highest employers and presents opportunities for entry into the workplace for young people.”
Viriri says it is a great step for young people to get experience, upskill themselves to get their ideal jobs. The biggest challenges she said they face is the perception amongst young people that cleaning is a low-level job and ‘uncool.’
She explained that if they could change their mindset it can help bring the unemployment rates down – cleaning companies across the country hire more than 100 000 people.
The minimum requirement for entry-level to become a cleaner is a matric certificate. Viriri explained that reputable companies then provide on-the-job training in line with industry practices to enable entrants to perform their duties, receive various site-specific training and where applicable, as well as health and safety training.
She concluded that perceptions of jobs such as cleaning and security services need to change as they have opportunities to train and upskill the youth.
Related articles:
https://midrandreporter.co.za/227362/unemployment-sa-highest-decade/
https://midrandreporter.co.za/226383/focus-remains-on-unemployment-2/
