Heavy equipment company Barloworld Equipment, is not only leading the way in piloting a new learnership programme in its company but it is also putting into practice Numsa’s demand that employment for new learners must be guaranteed.
The company which specialises in servicing and repairing heavy equipment for farming, road building and mines is currently training 136 learners in repair skills – a dire need for the expanding company. After one year, learners will receive a certificate. Later they can return to undergo more training.
According to Numsa shop steward, Silas Phasha, all learners will then be employed by the company to repair equipment both inside the country and in other African countries. “This is the starting point to resolve the unemployment problem,” he said.
The company plans to train more learners next year. It is also working on a learnership that will cover the sales and marketing arena.