In Conversation With Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
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The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) warmly welcomes the relaunch of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) Teachers’ Assistants Programme, with 200,000 young people beginning work across the country today. This initiative, led by the African National Congress government, is a positive step in addressing the country’s unemployment crisis, offering participants a monthly wage and valuable work experience.
COSATU has long supported the PES for its alignment with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and its commitment to equipping participants with skills, training, and experience that improve their chances of securing permanent, decent employment. Teaching assistants have played a vital role in supporting educators and enhancing classroom learning. This marks a welcome departure from other public employment programmes that have too often paid below the NMW and offered minimal training or long-term prospects, effectively serving as low-cost labour for jobs that should be permanent.
COSATU has long supported the PES for its alignment with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and its commitment to equipping participants with skills, training, and experience that improve their chances of securing permanent, decent employment. Teaching assistants have played a vital role in supporting educators and enhancing classroom learning. This marks a welcome departure from other public employment programmes that have too often paid below the NMW and offered minimal training or long-term prospects, effectively serving as low-cost labour for jobs that should be permanent.