Apprentice training and artisan employment

17 Pages·2009·2.99 MB·English

FOCUS ON TRAINING
r r ^
Training
i
i
Apprentice training and artisan employment:
changing numbers, but maintaining job reservation
Paul Lundell and' /.aid Kimmie 40
COSATU unions take initiative in training
Kdrienne Bird 46
Union-employer training agreements: uneven efforts and effects
•Aiki Zikalala 51
39 SA Labour Bulletin Vol 16 No 6
Special focus:
Trainin
Apprentice training and
artisan employment:
changing numbers
- but maintaining
m
+;':':v"'"->-:v*::^'
iXyXyioxwvXv
'job reservation'
•IIIIIMIIM
W,
:*••:•' VJ-V-Vi' iiliiS!
»:•••:•-*>•:
SBS
NGOWl
Looking closely at the official statistics, PAUL
LUNDALL'and ZAID KIMMIE" show the
continuing impact of inferior education and
•ivX'X'-'X*X'-'-' v ;•-'>:h
racially-biased training opportunities for blacks.
The challenges involved in
being trained in technical
>:•:•:•>>:• broad Rroups-s*Kfe as
planning a broad strategy of
fields, while it is estimated
economic restructuring for
!y>XXvl that 75% should be trained in
wwK
labourer*, maaagm
South Africa must include the
these fields to meet economic
Vt'l V"'t" •'l'"' i V.".'.". V.". . .'.'.'/.'f,',', i"».Vl Vfc*4 l'l"l *'l B^lTl.'iV**!* I
xvivX^ivX^Xv**:--.*:-:
:•:•>: WSW ft-ijv: <•: •:;•>•:•»:*:•:*>:« need for industrial training for requirements.***
•Wkhiaeach
the workforce of tomorrow. As late as 1983, just over
I ":x::::-::::
But the economic strategy 1 % of the total economically
•WinHi adopted will have to balance active population in South
I'Xvj
the increasingly serious Africa were registered for
WASR
unemployment levels for the apprenticeship. This compares
vx-xoxo
*:•>:•
great mass of the unskilled very unfavourably with other
workers of South Africa, with countries where, like South
j:•^^Xj^:• the pressing need for skilled Africa, apprenticeship is
i?x^:i:-::S:S:::::::-S:::: labour. Without a well trained considered the main route to
and skilled workforce, the training of skilled artisans. In
ililUri
required increase in 1977, Germany had 5,70%,
i i i l W n p &* •-••-•••
productivity, and growth in Austria 6,15% and Switzerland
the economy, will be 538% of their respective total
unobtainable. economically active
weid>f s, boJIerraakm populations in the
Currently, only 10% of
[•X'XvX'X\iXX-XvX-^.:vXo:> ;.v.'/x-xvivx:•>&''-.-;,<-;,x i-J
apprenticeship system.****
South Africa's workforce is
Researcher at the South African Labour Development Research Unit (SALDRU), UCT
**
At SALDRU at the time of writing this article
* South African Institute of Race Relations, Annual Review 1988/89, f>411
*#*
fnvestkjation into the Training of Artisans in the RSA, 1985, p 49
July/August 1992 40
FOCUS ON TRAINING
year. By contrast, there were
TABLE 1 Distribution Of
Artisans and Apprentices by 37 600 white apprentices
Occupational Sector 1989
and 174 000 white artisans
in the same period [see
Occupational Artisans Apprentices
Tables 2 and 3 on p 42].
Sector
The apprenticeship
Metal & 33% 40%
system was dominated by
Enqineerinq
white apprentices, who
Electrical 16% 25%
accounted for more than
Motor I 15% 18%
80% of all apprentices, and
Building 19% 12%
to a lesser extent by
Prinlinq 6% 3%
coloured apprentices, who
Furniture 3% 1%
accounted for about 15% of
Other 8% 1%
apprentices. A similar
Total 100% 100%
situation existed for artisans,
where approximately 78%
Artisan employment and
were white and 17% coloured.
apprenticeship in South Africa
are heavily focused on four There were also major
E:-:':,''v":'v':;:::':y:X'j:;:":x;i:;:"::::;:::":^?iiS.
occupational sectors - Metal imbalances in the distribution
•x\'":;:-|
and Engineering Trades, of apprentices across
mMMffiffiSM
Electrical Trades, Motor occupational sectors. The •>:•:•:•:•: I
XyXvt
hf !$N> f-'•'" • •! v" v*IS'-* >L» L»»-•:'
Trades and Building Trades - much greater number of white JCJk:' •:•:•-'»:• :•:*: •>: v»;« :•:•;•: v:*-. \viv:
•. ••'.•:•:-:-:« »:•• o: v •:•:< :V:AVAV^.V
In addition to tie
which together account for apprentices and artisans was
iiiiiiiiBililiiliiil
approximately 90% of all reflected also in their
apprentices and almost 85% of domination of the four most
radal :-E«w
all artisans [see Table I].* Tnis important occupational
km has
is not surprising, since the sectors: Metal and
trades in these occupations Engineering, Motor Trades *:mv-vr> •
provide the bulk of the skilled and Electrical Trades.
labour force in the more
In only two occupational
yyyy.
important manufacturing
sectors did black apprentices •••:•-
industries, as well as in mining.
form the majority, namely
Building (about 58%) and
•:•:•:•
£1
The statistics of racial Furniture (about 85%). HttHHI
Similarly, black artisans
discrimination
represented the majority only ' »«
During the 1970s, Africans
:*:•:•:<
femalei :•/:•:(
in the Furniture occupational
accounted for less than 2% of
osJwvXvt:m-^?:a':'t.' kaUy N l u p e dM
sector.
all apprentices and artisans.
for* of ft ma k
Alhough they are the Black apprentices and •:•:•; w^:-:-:
V i«a as.ijQ.e •>>>:w ¥?KVrV
overwhelming majority of the artisans were grossly
South African population, under-represented in the Metal
there were on average, during and Engineering, Motor and
»mor*than70<* are ;-:-:t->
the 1970s, only 560 African Electrical occupational sectors.
i M a ^ M l l ii
apprentices and 4 600 African General training opportunities
IP
artisans in employment each for black apprentices were
7?ie statistics in tNs article are derived from the Manpower Surveys which were previously published every
second year by the Department of Manpower but since 1987 have been produced annually by the Central
Statistical Service
41 SA Labour Bulletin Vol 16 No 6
FEATURE
TABLE 2 Distribution of Apprentices by Occupational
coloured and Asian
Sectorl 969-197S apprentices remained
relatively constant, at about 7
Occupational Coloured African Asian White
sector 100 and 2 070 per year
respectively. The number of
BuHdinq 55% 35% 45% 9%
white apprentices fell from
Metal & 11% 7% 13% 40%
Enqineerinq 43 000 in 1985 to 31 000 in
0 n n 1988, making an average of
Furniture 11%
36 000 white apprentices per
Motor 9% 28% 10% 20%
n annum.
Electrical 14% 17% 18%
Other 14% 16% 15% 13% A similar change was
occurring with regard to artisan
Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
employment, but at a slower
Average per 6700 560 1380 37600
annum rate. The average number of
artisans per year increased
TABLE 3 Distribution of Artisans by Occupational from 223 400 to 234 000
overall. The average number of
Sector 1969-1979
white artisans per annum
Occupational Coloured African Asian White
declined from 174 000 in the
Sector
1970s to 170 000 in the 1980s.
Buidinq 63% 44% 48% 20%
The average number of African
Metal & 12% 11% 11% 42%
artisans increased from 4 600
Enqineerinq
to 13 500 per annum.
o
Furniture 10% 10% 11%
Motor 5% 15% 14% 14% However, closer
Other 10% 20% 16% 24% examination of the statistics
[see Table 4 left] shows, that
Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
white apprentices still made
Average per 38000 4600 7000 174
annum up over 72% of all
apprentices, and more than
68% of all artisans.
TABLE 4 Distribution of Artisans and Apprentices by
Population Group 1961 -1989 What is more, the increase
in the number of African
Coloured African Asian White
apprentices took a very specific
Artisans 17.5% 5.8% 4.1% 72.6%
form. In fact, a large proportion
Apprentices 13.5% 13.8% 4.1% 68.6%
of the growth was actually
severely limited They were Changes and continuities absorbed by one occupational
channelled towards the From 1980/81, after the sector Building [see Table 5
Building occupational sector relaxation of legal restrictions on p 43]. Furniture was the
because it is subject to severe in the Manpower Training other sector where blacks
cyclical fluc&iations, and it Act on apprentice training, continued to make up a
provides little room for career there was a significant majority of all apprentices.
advancement or long term increase in the number of
Little real increase
security. African apprentices. During
occurred in the more
the 1980s, approximately 7
Barriers which excluded important occupational
200 African apprentices were
black apprentices from the sectors such as Metal and
registered per year, an
more technologically Engineering, Electrical
increase of almost thirteen
advanced trades included Trades and Motor Trades. In
times the average during the
inferior education and racially fact, apprenticeship in these
1970s. The number of
exclusive craft unions. and all the other sectors
July/'August 1992 42
FOCUS ON TRAINING
continued to be dominated by TABLE 5 Distribution of Apprentices by Occupational
whites, and these patterns Sector 1981-1989
were reproduced in the
Occupational Coloured African Asian While
structure of artisan
sector
employment during most of
Buitfinq 35% 40% 14% 5%
the 1980s [see Table 6 right].
Metal & 26% 24% 31% 42%
Enqineemg
Artisans and apprentices Motor 12% 17% 22% 20%
in the metal industry Electrical 12% 12% 21% 26%
Doug Hindson and Owen Other 15% 7% i 12% 7%
Crankshaw noted in "New Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
jobs, new skills, new Average per 7100 7200 2070 36000
divisions - the changing annum
structure of SA's
workforce"* that within the TABLE 6 Distribution of Artisans by Occupational
metal industry, artisan Sector 1981-1987
employment grew relatively
Occupational Coloured African Asian While
slowly.
sector
However, by not
Build inq 56% 42% 35% 12%
adequately analysing the
Metal & 17% 21% 18% 43%
racial structure of this Engineering
important occupational
Motor 7% 11% 16% 16%
sector, Hindson and
Electrical 5% 9% 9% 12%
Crankshaw missed a very
Other 15% 17% 22% 17%
significant feature evident
Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
within the figures.
Average per 41000 13500 9600 170000
Most artisan employment annum
in the metal and engineering
trades is concentrated in a training and greater level of categories in the metal and
limited number of job skills than boiler-making or engineering trades in 1987.
categories. Table 7 (on page fitting and turning, still While there is a large number
44) lists 9 out of 27 job remain almost exclusively of whites in the more skilled
categories which can be dominated by white artisans fitter-and-turner category,
found in the industry. and apprentices. they are also spread over all
the job categories.
Our investigation of the It appears that black
artisan occupational sector artisan employment and Black artisans are very
within the metal industry apprenticeship training is differently distributed. They
shows that white artisans are heavily concentrated in are located in a much more
spread over a wider range of occupations where operating limited number of job
job categories than black skills and knowledge are categories:
artisans. The same is true for acquired more quickly - such • Coloureds artisans - 83%
apprentices. as boilermaking, are employed in only five
fltting-and-tuming and
Furthermore, jobs such as job categories. The
welding.
tool-making, jig-making, majority work as welders
die-making, mill-wrighting Table 7 shows the (31%), boilermakers (27%)
and pattern-making, which distribution of the different and fitter and turners
require a more thorough 'races' in artisan job (13%).
SA Labour Bulletin, Vol 15, No 1, June 1990
43 SA Labour Bulletin Vol 16 No 6
FEATURE
TABLE 7 Distribution of artisans according to occupation in the metal and
engineering trades in 1987
Occupational types White Coloured Asian African
Welder 7% 31% 8% 29%
Rater (Boilermaker} 14% 27% 11% 13%
Construction 32% 16% 5%
Steetworker
Fitter and Turner 16% 13% 15% 8%
Fitter (including 16% 7% 8% 9%
machining!
Instrument Maker 4% 12%
and Repairer
Sheet Metalworker 2% 6% 15% 8%
Turner (including 7%
machining)
Tooknaker** 5%
Other 13% 16% 15% 28%
TOTAL 100% 100% 100% 100%
Total no. of Artisans 67 367 6418 2079 4 460
* includes Architectural Metalworker
** includes Tool & Jigmaker, Machine & Tool Setter.
Table 8 Distribution of apprentices in training in 1987 according to < occupation
Occupational Types White Coloured Asian African
Fitter and Turner 32% 25% 27% 28%
Plater (Boilermaker) 12% 25% 20% 22%
Fitter (including 10% 18% 25% 29%
machining)
Welder 5% 9% 7% 6%
Instrument Maker 4% 8%
and Repairer
Toolmaker* 6% 11%
Millwright (Electro 10%
Mechanical)
Aircraft Maintenance 5%
Mechanic
Other 16% 12% 13% 15%
TOTAL 100% 100% 100% 100%
Total no. of 12426 j 858 411 1771
Apprentices
* includes Tool & Jigmaker, Machine & Tool Setter
• Asians artisans - 90% are construction and boilermakers (11%).
employed in eight job steel/architectural •African artisans - 72%
categories. A higher metalworkers (16%), fitter are in only six job
proportion than other black and turners (15%), sheet categories. The majority of
artisans hold more skilled metalworkers (15%), African artisans are
positions but they are still instrument maker and employed as welders
mainly employed as repairers/mechanics (12%) (29%), boilermakers
July/August 1992 44
FOCUS ON TRAINING
Why are there not more black artisans?
Photo: William Matlala
(13%), fillers (9%), jigmakers and toolsetiers The mere removal of
fitter-and-tumers (8%) and (11%). discriminatory legislation
sheet metalworkers (8%). •The majority of Asian allows for a certain growth in
This distorted racial apprentices were being the number of African
distribution among artisans is trained as fitter and turners apprentices and artisans, but
strongly carried over onto (27%), fitters (25%) and has not fundamentally
apprenticeship training, as boilermakers (20%). challenged ihe limited access
Table 8 above clearly shows. •The majority of African which black, and particularly
The majority of white apprentices were being African, workers have to the
apprentices in 1987 were trained in only three job more skilled occupational
being trained over the whole categories. These were: sectors.
spread of occupations fiuing (29%), fitting and • While further investigation
covering the entire range of turning (28%), is needed into this
job categories. boilcrmaking (22%). phenomenon, it is clear
It was the opposite for that there has been a
black apprentices. They were Conclusions tendency for the Building
confined within particular job What we have attempted to occupational sector to
categories. For instance: show is that while the 'racial become a 'black' area of
• The majority of coloured composition' of artisanaland specialisation. At the same
apprentices were being apprenticeship employment is time, the dominant
trained as boilermakers changing, breaking down the position of whites within
(25%), filter and turners available statistics reveals most other sectors has
(25%), fillers (18%) and as that this has been a very remained relatively
toolmakers, tool and uneven process. unchallenged.
45 SA Labour Bulletin Vol 16 No 6
FEATURE
•Even where there has been
a movement of black
COSATU
artisans and apprentices
into a more skilled
occupational sector this is
unions take
again an uneven process.
The limited number of
black artisans' and
initiatives in
apprentices in the more
technologically advanced
Metal and Engineering
training
occupational sector shows
that blacks are facing a
clear bias in their
placement in particular job
Education and training must move from
categories - in fact those
"traditional" approaches, benefitting a few, to
of lower skill levels.
"transformational" approaches empowering the
From a policy perspective,
majority of working people. NUMSA's ADRIENNE
details such as these are
BIRD describes how COSATU is contributing
important because it is the
towards developing a comprehensive integrated
intricacies and focus of the
education and training system for the future.
current apprenticeship
training system which will
COSATU believes that a
skills, various
determine the future growth
massive increase in both the
opportunities for growth
pattern of black, and
quality and quantity of skills
will not be born;
particularly African,
training is needed in South
D the development of skills
apprentices and artisans.
Africa as a necessary
has redistributive effects as
complement to the provision
It is clear that the potential higher skills, especially in
of general education to both
for addressing the skills areas where shortages have
school-goers and adults.
shortage in the South African been identified, brings
Skills training, the federation
economy does exist amongst access to higher income.
believes, is also a
the under-utilised and COSATU accepts,
fundamentally important part
under-trained black however, that skills training
of a larger political and
workforce. Serious initiatives can be approached either in:
economic programme
will have to be pursued to •a traditional way (that is,
because:
increase the level of technical benefitting the few, which
skills generally, and also to leaves structural inequality
• those with high level skills
correct the current racial unchallenged); or
tend to wield greater
imbalances within skilled • a transformative way (that
influence in society - both
occupational groups. is, benefitting the majority,
on the political as well as
and changing power in
on the economic terrain;
It is imperative that, while
favour of working people.
recognising that shortages • skills training has an
This article explores some
exist in each occupational important part to play in
fundamental principles guiding
sector, methods must be ending labour market
COSATU's interventions in
found by which to combat segmentation and in
this arena of struggle and
these new forms of 'job ending discrimination
gives an assessment of
reservation', ft based on race, gender and
progress thus far.
class;
• without more and better In 1981, the Manpower
July/August 1992 46
FOCUS ON TRAINING
More black apprentices, but into less skilled trades
Photo: William Matlala
Training act (MTA) was fundamental rights in the Training at COSATU's 1991
introduced. It ended the era of political and economic arena. Congress (see box on pp
racist training legislation by Training was simply not on 48-49), the federation agreed
bringing training for all the agenda for the to be represented on the
workers under a single act Its predecessors of COSATU National Training Board
central focus was, however, and NACTU. Education (NTB). The basis of its
still artisan training. battles were being fought participation was the same as
around schooling and were that for the NMC. The first
The act also established the
led by students and political meeting its delegate attended
National Training Board
groups. was in August 1991.
(NTB) - a tripartite body to
advise the Minister of Since then there have been
Manpower on training The National ongoing problems about the
questions. However, it was Training Board nature of its democratic
white conservative craft unions representation. This is because
that were appointed by the Following experiences on the COSATU has clearly stated its
Minister to occupy a number of principled right to operate in an
National Manpower
seats on the board. The open and democratic fashion
Commission, as well as the
progressive unions were, at that and for its delegate to carry
adoption of a comprehensive
ame, still fighting for more mandates and report back fully
resolution on Education and
47 SA Labour Bulletin Vol 16 No 6
FEATURE
to the federation.
Since COSATU COSATU unions take the initiative
participation began, there
have been two central issues
As they gained in power and in this country. We support
of contestation. confidence, trade unions such their efforts to expose
as the affiliates of COSATU corruption in the administration
began to identify training as a of education, their demands for
National Training
key site of the struggle. The proper distribution of
Strategy (NTS)
amendment to the MTA, in textbooks, utilisation of empty
In 1991 the HSRC reported its 1991, ironically accelerated this or under-used 'white* schools,
findings concerning a future process by establishing industry their advocacy of a culture of
national training strategy. Tlie training boards. These provided learning amongst students and
a forum which forced unions to their in-depth investigation of
report had been commissioned
address the questions of education policy.
by the NTB and was formally
institutional restructuring as 33 A new education system
adopted by the NTB in April
well as of training content and requires the full participation of
1991. The recommendations of scope. Following discussions in all those affected. We
the report were then published NUMSA and other affiliates encourage the development of
for comment in the around these issues, in 1991 democratic and representative
COSATU adopted an important structures amongst students,
Government Gazette.
comprehensive resolution on parents and teachers, as well as
However, before the
Education and Training at its Parent Teacher Student
responses were received, the Fourth Congress. Included were Associations (PTSAs).
Minister of Manpower the following:
Teachers are workers too.
approved the establishment of
We welcome the formation of
a Task Team whose function COSATU's education and the South African Democratic
was to prepare for the training resolution Teachers Union (SADTU).
3.1 We re-affirm our 3.4 COSATU should continue
implementation of the NTS. In
commitment to work for a to play a role in restructuring
the November NTB meeting,
single, non-racial and the country's educational
COSATU tabled a detailed
non-sexist educational system system.
response to the NTS, proposing
geared to meet the needs and 3.5 Our economy needs
an altogether new process to aspirations of society as a massive growth to provide jobs
allow for the fundamental whole. Apartheid education is and improve standards of
an instrument of domination. living. But there is a serious
principles of the report to be
We are committed to: shortage of skilled workers.
revisited and negotiated by a
• destroying all forms of Large numbers of adults,
more representative and well
apartheid, open and victims of the government's
structured forum. The NTB
disguised, in the current policies, lack proper basic
endorsed the COSATU educational system; education. Many lack literacy
position. In April 1992, the and numeracy skills and are
• free and compulsory basic
unable to benefit from training
Minister of Manpower broadly schooling for all children;
programmes. Urgent steps are
endorsed the COSATU • curricula which develop
needed to provide extensive
literacy, numeracy, and the
proposals and it is now
basic adult education and
ability to think critically;
anticipated that a new process
training. We need the skills to
• a formal education system
will be established to negotiate run industries, to shape and
which is not purely
a new National Training develop economic policies, to
academic but is geared to
build a democratic society and
Strategy. COSATU will providing scientific and
enhance job creation.
negotiate for a National technological skills which
Training Strategy that provides can contribute to the 3.5.1 Training
development of our country. Wc will fight for the total
a national framework for the
3.2 We acknowledge the role of restructuring of the training
implementation of its adopted
the NECC and will continue to system along the following
policy.
assist them in their struggle to lines:
overcome the education crisis • Training should be linked to
COSATU has openly
July/August 1992 48 r*