The average job created by Phase 2 of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) lasts only 46 days, the South African Institute of Race Relations said in Johannesburg today.

While the Department of Public Works could boast that it had created 800 000 job opportunities through the programme since April 2009, it had failed to meet its target of creating jobs that will last 100 days each.

The average length of employment for the first year of Phase 2 of the EPWP was 50 days. This fell to 34 days in the first quarter of 2010/11, according to the latest South Africa Survey published by the Institute.

Phase 1 of the EPWP was launched in April 2004 and the two phases have created a total of 2.4 million work opportunities.

The data, which comes from a reply to a parliamentary question, shows that the majority of opportunities created have been in infrastructure.

The programme is a government initiative aimed at providing poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed to carry out socially useful activities.

Ms Lucy Holborn of the research department at the Institute said, ‘The Government may be on track to meet its target of creating a total of 3 million work opportunities by 2014, but it is important to take into account the average length of each of these opportunities in order to properly assess the impact the programme is having on unemployment and poverty.'

Ms Holborn also noted that the average wage in the programme was R64 a day.

Statement issued by the South African Institute of Race Relations, January 31 2011

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