Despite difficult market conditions in South Africa ’ s cold chain and construction sectors , Concor has never shied away from its commitment to social and economic transformation , which includes the strengthening of small businesses in areas where the company has projects underway .
Despite being more educated than their male counterparts , young women face lower employment rates and greater barriers in entrance into the labour force .
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
BUSINESS AND TRAINING
Transforming through sharing skills , experience Supplied by Concor
Despite difficult market conditions in South Africa ’ s cold chain and construction sectors , Concor has never shied away from its commitment to social and economic transformation , which includes the strengthening of small businesses in areas where the company has projects underway .
According to Sheldon Mayet , senior transformation manager at Concor , the procurement , skills development and recruitment process are valuable ways through which the company can empower small businesses in the communities where it works . This is particularly important in and around the country ’ s smaller towns , where business opportunities are more limited .
“ When we embark upon any project through or near a town , we always engage with local communities and businesses , firstly to inform them who we are and then to provide them with information about selected project requirements and opportunities which are available to them during the construction phase ,” says Mayet .
“ In fact , the whole procurement process is carefully planned and managed , not only to give small businesses fair access to work but also to grow them with the relevant skills so they can become more viable in the long run .”
Among the first steps in each of these projects is for Concor to engage intensely with local structures of government and community members , to understand more about the area where the project will be located , he explains . This paves the way for compiling a database of skills availability , local businesses and for Concor to understand the dynamics of the community to ensure the company develops a trust relationship which is critical to the success of the project .
“ In addition to the small businesses from which we procure , we also draw our general workers for each project from the area we work in ,” he says . “ We talk to representatives from the nearby towns and villages to ensure that there is an equitable distribution
Image supplied by Concor
1 . Members of the local community in Noupoort celebrate their hard earned success after graduating as concrete hands and shutterhands following training done by Concor during construction of the Koruson 1 Cluster project .
2 . Concor employees are seen with the Deputy Principal of Eureka Intermediate School at the Umsobomvu Circuit Athletics Day held at the Simphiwe Ntsizakalo Stadium in Noupoort where the company sponsored refreshments for participating learners from Eureka Intermediate School .
of opportunities , while we also seek out the best available skills .”
At the same time , there is usually the need for work site training – such as health and safety , first aid and induction – which to a certain extent upskills these workers and makes them more employable when they seek their next jobs .
In balancing its social contribution with its professional reputation and workmanship , Concor must ensure that the quality of its project deliverables is in no way compromised . Mayet highlights how the company focuses on the close and systematic supervision of all subcontractors , through its permanent team of experienced site managers , foremen and artisans .
“ Supervision is in fact an important aspect of the mentoring that we provide to small businesses who partner with us ,” he says . “ We help them to hone their constructionrelated skills , so they can participate more competitively in their markets .”
An important building block of any business in the construction sector , for instance , is its grading with the Construction Industry Development Board ( CIDB ). As a business moves up the nine CIDB grading levels , it can tender for projects of increasing value . Vital to any business ’ s progress to the next grade is its ability to improve its track record of actual projects competed .
“ We work constructively with emerging subcontractors to improve their profitability , systems and expertise , and to successfully complete their scope of work with us ,” he says . “ They are often able to achieve a better grading on the strength of our collaboration .”
Mayet emphasises the challenging but positive role of the Community Liaison Officer on each of its projects . The CLO is a community-based person appointed by Concor to help ensure that the company and community can work together and meet their common goals .
“ On every project , we upskill people and allow small businesses to gain more experience – which are the basic steps toward economic transformation ,” he concludes . CLA
Gender gap still evident in SA By Tanya Olckers
Despite being more educated than their male counterparts , young women face lower employment rates and greater barriers in entrance into the labour force .
On 21 August , a group of women met in Parktown to discuss the reality that many young South African women face in entering the workforce . This was a vital conversation , and certainly one that has to penetrate beyond the walls of a well-lit boardroom .
The Harambee Breaking Barriers Quarterly Report offers a sobering look at the state of employment for youth , and young women in particular , in South Africa . The employment rate as it currently stands in the country reflects that 57 % of young
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women are without jobs compared to 49 % for young men .
This comes as women in South Africa are 10 % more likely to pass matric than their male counterparts , and 70 % more likely to have a degree . Despite being more educated , they still experience low employment rates , higher barriers to labour market entry , and , when they do find jobs , will be paid 6 % less than men in the same job .
What we are also seeing in South Africa is that women are employed in low-skilled work more often than men . The sectors where more
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women are employed in are predominantly community , social and personal services sectors . And when it comes to medium skilled jobs , these are the ones that are most threatened by automation and AI .
The global business sector ( GBS ) is showing high growth , with an emphasis on hiring women . This is not something that has happened by accident : the sector has used targeted incentive structures to drive up the recruitment of women .
The obstacles that young women face to enter the workforce are many . Transport and
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data costs are high , they may not have time to actively look for work if they are covering service responsibilities ( cooking , cleaning ) at home , the cost of childcare while they search for jobs and things such as not having a driver ’ s license can compound the search for work .
What ’ s more is that women in urban settings could stand a higher chance of getting work than women living in rural areas . Women who are pregnant do not have much luck with jobs at all . Client or employer bias may also play a part as we
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COLD LINK AFRICA • November / December 2024 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 15