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*