INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS SCARCE PRODUCTIVITY SKILLS IN AFRICA

During his 89th birthday, the world’s icon, Nelson Mandela has once again demonstrated his commitment to Africa’s competitiveness by giving the world a gift. It is a group of visionaries from Africa and abroad, committed to tackling global problems and finding solutions to take Africa forward. Madiba expressed his confidence in the sharing of ideas between Africans and the world leaders, as a powerful tool that has the power to take the continent forward. It’s as if the Productivity SA has read his mind. This announcement comes at a time when the organization celebrates the completion of the first ever international training programme, where productivity experts from Africa and Asia came together to exchange ideas, in addressing scarce productivity skills in the continent.

“Our country needs this kind of an intervention now more than ever. Through this programme, we are hoping to come up with various ways and action plans on how best Africa can apply productivity principles as a way of cutting the tape concerning skills shortage”, said Productivity SA’s Chief Executive Director, Dr Yvonne Dladla. According to Dladla, delegates attending the programme will go back to their countries and explain productivity concepts in relation to national competitiveness and develop ways to inculcate productivity mindset to the workforce and industries in our regions.  

The programme is designed to fully equip the delegates with skills and knowledge critical to identify productivity problems, so that a clear productivity plan can be develop and implemented. This first of its kind initiative through partnership with African Productivity Organisation’s, is the Productivity SA’s reaction to meeting SA government’s JIPSA and ASGISA programmes objectives of addressing skills shortage. This effort is done based on the collective experiences of the continent’s productivity organisations and member countries in assisting the African countries to raise productivity. About thirty delegates from South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Zambia, Mauritius and Kenya will as a result of the programme, build up the competencies in the promotion and application of basic Productivity and Quality techniques in their country’s organizations and industries.

Productivity SA is therefore excited to invite you to join-in as we celebrate the completion of this vital step, guaranteed to take the continent’s productivity forward.

Date: Thursday 26 July 2007

Time: 11:00 till 13:00

Venue: Eskom Conference Centre, Midrand

Note to Editors

Productivity SA

Productivity SA is a Section 21 Company. It is listed as Schedule 3(A) of the PFMA and reports to the Minister of Labour. It is governed by a tripartite Advisory Council and Board drawn from government, organised labour and business and has offices in Midrand, Durban and Cape Town. Productivity SA has undergone a major transformation between 1999 and 2001 to align its strategies with the South African nation strategy and priorities.

The mandate of Productivity SA is to serve the interests of government, organised labour and business through the enhancement of productive capacity in order to contribute to socio-economic development and competitiveness.

Productivity SA meets its mandate by building capacity through job creation and retention, promoting social dialogue and collaboration in the workplace, reducing poverty in rural communities, and enhancing world-class competitiveness amongst growing sectors.

PRODUCTIVITY

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