Madam Speaker,

Honourable colleagues, the bill with amendments aims to provide new functions for the National Skills Authority and the SETA's.  The stark realities of the labour market are all too familiar with us - the high unemployment and the huge number of unfilled vacancies.  Whilst the IFP supports the amendments, we believe that SETAs have been inundated with problems, and the efficacy of many SETAs have been questioned, with some being placed under administration. 

Many artisans and engineers have almost become a "threatened species," add to this the list of overstretched doctors and nurses.  Hence, we cannot debate and dialogue the urgency of the situation, whilst acknowledging that there is no such thing as "oven ready graduates."  It has to start with building the institutional capacity.  Also, the need to source scarce skills is critical, but also the need to transfer them laterally and to future generations is critically important.

The IFP supports the Bill, I thank you.