Att: The Editor – Cape Argus
Email: arglet@inl.co.za

YOUR EDITION JANUARY 6^TH 2015

Firstly we must congratulate all the matriculants of 2014 and secondly we must wish them the best of luck as they enter the ranks of the work seekers.  Unfortunately our matric today does not meet the requirements of a sophisticated workforce.  As a labour lawyer I spend at least one week every month consulting with companies who are retrenching their lesser qualified staff as the work environment becomes more and more mechanised and computerised.  Our labour laws have created an enormous encouragement to the employers to do away with the menial tasks which can easily be done by robots.  Our manufacturing technology has improved to such a degree that it could be said that we are now entering the third industrial revolution.  Even the farming community have mechanised to such an extent that many of the farms don’t swell their workforce over the harvesting period.  The technological advances have been incredibly negative for job growth but this must be coupled with the retardant factor of our labour laws.  In essence a matriculant wanting to enter the workforce today will have a much harder time than his predecessors ten years ago.  The system isn’t fair and is certainly not conducive to our third world environment, however, this new innovative workplace will present opportunities to those students who want to learn about the technology and who are prepared to accept this new world.  We must encourage the matriculants to study further and to become part of the new technological revolution.

Unfortunately both the labour and the education departments in our government are refusing to recognise that South Africa has to join the new industrial revolution and can only compete if our workforce are suitably trained.

MICHAEL BAGRAIM