
MEDIA INVITE – 13 November 2023
RE: JOB CREATION PROGRAMME CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Date: Wednesday, 15 November 2023,
Time: 09h30 to 13h00
Venue: Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel & Convention Centre, Umhlanga Ridge
Please join Productivity SA in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its flagship programme, the Workplace Challenge Programme (WPC). The celebration will seize space this Wednesday at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel & Convention Centre, Umhlanga Ridge.
During the 25 years, over 3000 companies participated in the WPC Programme, with about 33 000 jobs preserved and created. In the 2022/23 FY the programme supported 101 enterprises.
The commemoration will see a gathering of close to 100 distinguished guests, representing government entities, businesses, labour organisations, academic institutions, and other key strategic partners who believe played an integral role in the success of the WPC throughout its 25-year journey.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Productivity SA, Mr Mothunye Mothiba, says “Productivity Improvement is the most effective way of ensuring long-term competitiveness, long-term business success, economic growth and, consequently, tackling the challenges of unemployment, poverty, inequality, and exclusion. Productivity leads to greater levels of economic growth, which consequently results in higher income levels and improved well-being of society at large”.
Productivity SA is an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour, established in terms of section 31 of the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, with the mandate to promote employment growth and productivity, thereby contributing to South Africa’s socio-economic development and competitiveness.
Opening Programme Director: Ms Amelia Naidoo
Acting Executive Manager: Competitiveness Improvement Solution(CIS), Productivity SA 09:30 –09:35
Welcome Address Dr Annaline Chetty
Acting Productivity SA Board Chairperson, Productivity SA 09:35 –09:50
WPC video AV Presentation –25th Anniversary Video 09:50-10:00
WPC Companies
Journey
Msomi Engineering
The Blinds Syndicate
10:00 – 10:30
Panel discussion
Mr Nii Moi Thompson, ILO Programme Manager
Prof Barnes Sookdeo, Expert Committee Member
Mr Ridwan Peer, The Blinds Syndicate, Director
Mr Ashley Benjamin, General Secretary, FEDU 10:30 – 11:10
Mid-morning Tea wreck and Exhibition walkabout
(10 representing companies) Every 11:10 – 11:45
Guest Speaker MEC for Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Mr Siboniso Duma 11:45 – 12:05
Keynote Address Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Economic Development Department 12:05 – 12:35
Closing Remarks
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Productivity SA, Mr Mothunye Mothiba 12:55 – 13:00
For more information, please contact the Productivity SA media liaison office, Maupi Monyemangene, on 082 447 3232 (email: maupim@productivitysa.co.za)
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