Hon Speaker, on behalf of my colleague who is unable to be with us today, I am going to be debating the Employment Services Bill. There are many people across the country struggling to not only find jobs, but also to retain the jobs that they do have.
Many stakeholders have called on government to take a more active role in helping the citizenry tackle this issue and helping create more jobs, specifically for the youth. This Bill represents a step forward in the government's attempt not only to help those without work, but also to limit the impact of immigration on the availability of jobs.
The adoption of the Employment Services Bill will go a long way in helping vulnerable job seekers, who include the youth, new entrants into the labour market, disabled people and members of rural communities to be registered and matched with job vacancies and other work opportunities. With so many of our people in need of jobs, it is essential that they know where to go when they need to find more information with regard to available opportunities, and to be able to receive education and training as well as contact with employers through the established recruitment and placement services.
The regulation of private employment agencies presents an opportunity to minimise some of the labour-broking issues that many trade unions have been demanding be removed. With the new legislation private agencies will be regulated to ensure that only legitimate agencies are allowed to function as limited labour-broker agencies, presenting somewhat of a compromise to what the unions wanted.
The influx of foreign nationals into the country has stirred up animosity and tension amongst locals and foreigners, with many instances of xenophobic attacks taking place. The Bill allows for foreign nationals to be employed as long as South Africans with the particular skills needed are unavailable. This elevation of job opportunities to citizens over those of foreign workers will mean more jobs and a reduction in the number of unemployed. However, caution must be taken in this regard as it has the potential of blocking much needed experience within certain essential job markets, which the Minister has identified.
Many people with disabilities struggle to find permanent employment in different sectors of our job market, but with the implementation of the protected employment enterprises, this is bound to change. The many changing needs of people with disabilities must be catered for in the job market, and discrimination against them must be rooted out.
In conclusion, it is of paramount importance that this Bill be implemented cautiously, as it has all the intentions of making our job market more accessible to the South African job seeker. Elements of the Bill such as Productivity SA will not flourish if government disrupts the autonomy of the employers without good reason. It will take the public and private sectors working hand-in-hand to deal with issues of unemployment through skills training for those who need it and ensuring that the youth take advantage of the job opportunities presented to them. The IFP supports this Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]