Key stakeholders in the clothing, textiles, footwear and leather (CTFL) retail and manufacturing sectors cemented their commitment to boost local manufacturing with the signing of the R-CTFL Value Chain Master Plan 2030.
Master plan is an action plan
In the words of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Minister Ebrahim Patel, “the master plan is an action plan – simple, focusing on actions all stakeholders can undertake, and a mechanism to monitor it.
The master plan represents the first commitment from SA retailers to increase the purchase of local products, driving local manufacturing and employment”.
Objectives of the masterplan
Local retailers took the lead in the development of the value chain master plan. Increasing locally manufactured content in SA retail outlets is a critical component of the value chain master plan. Other pillars or objectives of the master plan include
- Accessing and growing export markets
- Enhancing value chain competitiveness
- Driving industry transformation with a focus on supporting new entrants, particularly black industrialists
- Increasing the level of worker ownership in the sector, and
- Bolstering value chain skills and technology levels
To achieve the objectives of the masterplan, the CTFL manufacturing sectors must increase their global competitiveness. Moreover, labour itself would need to contribute toward improving productivity.
Employment numbers to increase
The successful implementation of the value chain master plan calls for an increase in employment by “at least 121 016 (to 333 162)”. The aim is to generate sixty percent of these jobs in the manufacturing sector and fourty percent in retail.
Task Teams
Task Teams have been established to assist with the implementation of the value chain master plan. This includes a Skills and Productivity Development Task Team. The objective of the Skills and Productivity Development Task Team is “to develop concrete plans to rapidly and effectively upgrade management, operations and technology skills across the R-CTFL value chain to enable step-change productivity upgrading and technology absorption capabilities in support of competitiveness, employment growth and transformation” (Extracts from South African R-CTFL Value Chain Master Plan to 2030 )
How does TVET SA assist?
Thandeka Vocational Education Trust (Pty) Ltd (TVET SA) is an accredited skills development provider since 2003. We are well positioned to assist with the skills development goals detailed in the master plan. TVET SA has vast experience in the implementation of a range of learning interventions within the clothing and textile sectors. Of significance are the Learnership Programmes that TVET SA has been conducting since its inception. Our flagship learnership programme is the National Certificate Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather Manufacturing Processes at NQF Level 2. TVET SA has year on year graduated several hundred of learners, a huge component of which has encompassed unemployed youth.
Industry partnerships
TVET SA’s core value is to train for employability. We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver education and training programmes of a high standard. And to consistently ensure that successful graduates find placement within industry, thus contributing toward the creation of new jobs.
Over the years, TVET SA has successfully placed unemployed youth for work experienced with our various partners in the clothing and textile manufacturing sector.
We also fostered a partnership with one of the leading retailers. We assist them with achieving their annual employment growth strategy, and in turn contributes toward the sustainable growth of the clothing sector.
Technical and operator skills development
TVET SA is enthused by the commitments that have been made by the retailers to support localisation of manufacturing.
We look forward to working with other industry stakeholders to prepare workers in the sector to meet the increased demand for technical skills.
TVET SA recently commenced with the implementation of an ‘Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan’ intervention funded through the FP&M SETA. This project result in further job creation opportunities within the Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather Sectors.
We are partnering with institutions such as the Toyota Wessels Institute of Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) in this venture. TWIMS is headed up by Prof Justin Barnes, who played a pivotal role in the development of the master plan.
TVET SA continually seeks to deliver interventions aligned to the objectives of the R-CTFL Master Plan.
More information on these interventions will be posted on our Facebook page in the coming weeks.
We look forward to working with roleplayers in the R-CTFL sectors in achieving the objectives of the value chain masterplan.
