The Public Employment Services (PES) unit which is one of the units within the Department of Employment and Labour in the North West Province, urges employers to use its services for the recruitment of employees and internship candidates as well as self-empowerment opportunities.

PES makes use of the Employment Services of South Africa database (ESSA) to capture details of work seekers and assist in matching them to the available opportunities. The matching is made on the basis of information that is captured on the system.

According to the Director PES in the North West Province, Ms Slindile Nkiwane, the use of this service by employers will save them time and other recruitment costs such as advertising as the Department’s services are offered at no cost.

“Our services include registration of work seekers, registration of opportunities by employers, and match and placing work seekers with available opportunities. Moreover, work seekers are provided with career counselling services, which include psychometric assessment and job preparation.

After we have done all these, an employer will be provided with curriculum vitae of people who match the opportunities that they have and will then complete their recruitment process by shortlisting, interviewing, and appointing the qualifying individuals,” said Ms Nkiwane.

Furthermore, PES plays an advisory role to the Department of Home Affairs in their process of adjudicating both corporate and individual work permits. ESSA is used to check the availability of local skills before Home Affairs can approve permits for companies that seek to employ foreign national/s.

ESSA is available to all South African citizens at no cost. Both the employers and work seekers can register on the online portal found on the department’s website, www.labour.gov.za. Alternatively, they can visit any of the Department’s offices to be assisted.

Source: Government of South Africa