Jipsa to launch scarce and critical skills lists in August
05-JUL-06
Erwin announced that as part of government attempts to achieve the 2006/07 annual targets for the National Skills Development Strategy, work has begun on a framework of occupations to assist in the identification of scarce and critical skills.
The project is aligned to the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) and has begun initial work on a database of skills needs for Asgisa projects.
Closely linked to this project is the implementation of policy framework relating to immigrant Labour, which is controlled by the Department of Home Affairs. The list for skills importation is developed on an annual basis.
Erwin also announced that the Department of Labour has evaluated sector skills plans for 2006/07 from all 23 Setas. The Department is currently developing revised scarce and critical skills lists with the Department of Trade and Industry in time for gazetting in August.
“Since its launch, Jipsa has been resourced with a full-time secretariat. Consultations have begun to develop a better picture of the skills requirements underpinning Asgisa projects and initiatives”, announced Erwin.
Priorities are focusing on an operational plan for Tourism and BPO&O skills requirements, and the identification of cross-cutting skills in finance, project management and management in general.
Strategies are being finalised for the acquisition of intermediate artisan and technical skills for Asgisa infrastructure, ICT and unemployed graduates.
Erwin announced that it had been decided that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) database would be the most suitable for the foundation database for the Department of Labour’s Employment Services System.
To accommodate this, the data fields are being broadened, and upgrading of the Department of Labour intranet has begun.
Erwin explained that linkages between the new system and related systems such as the Department of Home Affairs system are being developed.
