Empowering Productivity and Innovation through Employment: A Look into Productivity SA’s Steadfast Dedication

Fostering a Competitive Business Environment

Productivity SA, a public entity established under the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, is dedicated to promoting productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth. Its mission is to create a competitive and thriving ecosystem for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa. The organization consistently supports businesses and entrepreneurs, contributing to the country’s socio-economic development and competitiveness.

Spearheading Productivity SA is Professor Mthunzi Mdwaba, a highly respected Board Chairman. Under his guidance, the organization has made significant progress in fulfilling its mandate. The Board’s diligent efforts have ensured compliance with the highest governance and regulatory standards, leading to an unqualified audit opinion for over a decade.

In line with government initiatives such as the National Development Plan (NDP) and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, Productivity SA has devised and executed a range of interventions to promote long-term competitiveness and growth. The effectiveness of these interventions is evident in the organization’s Annual Performance Plan results, which improved from 67% in 2020/21 to 92% in 2022/23.

Significant Milestones and Program Implementation

During the 2022/23 financial year, Productivity SA achieved noteworthy milestones. By training over 4,364 SMMEs, entrepreneurs, workers, and managers on productivity tools and competitiveness improvement initiatives, the organization was able to preserve 3,241 jobs. Furthermore, 100 enterprises were supported through the Workplace Challenge (WPC) Programme, with 64% being black-owned, 65% having partial or full women ownership, and 27% having partial or full youth ownership.

Besides the WPC, Productivity SA has introduced the Business Turnaround and Recovery (BT&R) Programme as part of its efforts to assist companies facing economic distress and preserve jobs. The BT&R exceeded expectations, helping 294 companies over the past three years, against a target of 174. Additionally, the program preserved over 15,563 jobs, surpassing the target by 181%.

The BT&R Programme not only preserved jobs but also generated 1,147 new ones over the past three years. This success demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in alleviating the difficulties faced by workers on the verge of retrenchments. Moreover, the program has supported nine businesses owned by people living with disabilities and preserved 576 jobs for people living with disabilities.

Opening New Opportunities and Building Partnerships

Professor Mdwaba’s tireless efforts and international connections have created new opportunities for Productivity SA. His association with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has resulted in South Africa’s active participation in the ILO’s Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work project, a global initiative backed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The project, which encourages productivity and decent work practices, is being tested in Ghana, South Africa, and Vietnam. Productivity SA chairs the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) responsible for developing and implementing the program.

With sponsorships from industry giants like SASOL and Arena Holdings, Productivity SA continues to advance its mandate. Maintaining unwavering commitment to stakeholders, the organization remains dedicated to employee growth and well-being, delivering value and innovation to clients and partners, and being a positive force for societal development.

Productivity SA’s accomplishments showcase the organization’s determination to fulfill its mandate of driving productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth. By actively engaging in strategic initiatives and forging partnerships, the organization is poised to make a lasting impact on South Africa’s socio-economic landscape.