'Skills upgrade imperative to boost export drive' Ð Ruiters

Leonard Neill
SOUTH AFRICA is well on the way to becoming a world-class knowledge economy, but some sectors, such as motor manufacturing, have embraced the concept more readily than others, says Alistair Ruiters, director general of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
This shows that a more intensive educational programme is needed to improve conditions for the betterment of the economy, and help boost the export drive, he told parliament's hearings on the department's new integrated manufacturing strategy last week.
Some areas, such as clothing, wine, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and jewellery, were still holding back through lack of knowledge of new and smarter ways of working, new management practices, new forms of corporate governance and government interventions that can support them.
Vastly upgraded skills are needed in this respect, which would address the unemployment problem as well, with so many people unemployable in today's modern knowledge-based economy, he said.
Ruiters quoted as an example people such as bookkeepers, who were traditionally accepted as being skilled, but are often no longer employable unless able to upgrade skills constantly to meet ever-changing requirements, particularly in the banking sector.
There were some who claimed that unemployment could be dealt with through more flexible labour laws, he said, but the reality was that even if laws were relaxed, the unemployment problem could not be met unless higher standards of training were instituted to meet on-going needs.
"Government, business, labour and the various educational institutions should get together to ensure that the kind of training that was provided met the needs of the real economy.
"This does not imply a focus only on hi-tech industry but could have a knock-on effect throughout the economy that can promote greater equity and development," he said.