Public Employment Programmes and Development of Human Capacity for Disadvantaged Women and Youth: The Case of the Expanded Public Works Programme in S. Africa

Abstract

Public employment programmes or public works programme are old programmes
that have been used during a crisis such as drought, economic downturn, war and
off-food insecurity, as well as unemployment, to provide a cushion to the poor and
unemployed. After a long battle with unemployment—which is linked to the colonial
and apartheid eras, laws, as well as the industrialisation of the country—South Africa
introduced the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in 2004 to provide
temporary employment opportunities to the poor and unskilled. This paper used a
mixed method approach to analyse the role of the EPWP, a PEP on capacity
development for disadvantaged women and youth. The methodology consisted of a
survey, semi-structured interviews and literature review. Primary data was collected
in two (2)—out of five (5)—districts of the Northern Cape Province, where 128
EPWP participants and 14 EPWP officials from Kimberley townships (Greenpoint,
Veregenoerg and Roodepan) and Joe Morolong Local Municipality (Gamothibi and
Glenred villages). The analysis of this data involved a two-step approach through
which data from surveys was analysed using graphs and tables. Dominant issues
identified were followed with semi-structured interviews on a smaller sample size,
and EPWP reports were used to substantiate these findings. This data was then
presented in thematic form. This paper reveals the complexity of the unemployment
challenge, which is beyond the scope of the short-term crisis relief approach of the
EPWP, therefore, making two proposals that will change the narrative with which
these programmes are conceptualized. Firstly, is the need for a change in the manner
in which skills development is implemented by moving away from project-based
skills development to a more labour market response approach. Secondly, is the need
for public-private partnerships to share the burden of fiscal constraints in skills
development to enable labour market transition.