The chemicals industry gets a learnership boost.
A number of unions have called on the government to stop the retrenchments at state-owned oil company PetroSA, which is expected to affect 900 employees.
Meanwhile, the start of the year sees industry and training institutions partner for skills development and work experience.
This includes digital skills education for 20 creative internships and programmes, bursaries and learnerships in the chemical sector. And a study by the Project Management Institute shows that certified project managers earn more than their non-certified counterparts.
Digital skills internships
Digital skills education facility Forge Academy is offering 20 creative internships for young Gauteng-based graduates to grow their digital skill sets in software development, user experience design, three-dimensional animation and game design, among others.
Interns will gain practical industry experience and receive guidance and on-the-job training from qualified and experienced mentors in each field of work.
Further, once the internship is complete, interns will receive assistance in seeking full-time employment.
Chieta and Sapref partner to improve skills in chemical industry
Chemicals industry education and training authority Chieta and the South African Petroleum Refinery (Sapref) have partnered to provide skills development programmes, bursaries and learnerships in the sector.
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The programme equips graduates for employment at Sapref or in other companies within the chemical industries sector.
According to a statement, the learnerships open doors for matriculants or for students with a technical and vocational education and training qualification who have a passion for engineering-related careers and provide the needed competencies for employment in the chemical sector. These learnerships have a duration of one year for each NQF level.
PMI survey shows higher salaries tied to certification
The Project Management Institute’s (PMI’s) Earning Power: Project Management Salary survey shows that those who hold a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification reported higher median salaries than those without.
The survey collected information from 30,000 respondents, 79 percent of whom hold a PMP certification.
Half of the respondents reported an increase in total compensation, including salary, bonus, and other cash incentives, despite the pandemic.
Unions calls for end to PetroSA retrenchments
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu) have called on the minister of mineral resources and energy, Gwede Mantashe, to immediately stop retrenchments at PetroSA.
According to media reports, 900 employees at PetroSA are expected to lose their jobs through the process.
According to the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), the state-owned oil company will then be staffed by 300 people.
It is alleged that international oil companies have abused their import licences and undermined local manufacturing capacity thereby “destroying jobs”.
