Unemployment stats: We will work hard to save jobs in the Western Cape

The Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released today (29 September 2020), reveals that at 27.3%, the Western Cape continues to have the lowest expanded unemployment rate in South Africa. 

However, the lockdown has had a major impact on the provincial economy and quarter-on-quarter 321,000 jobs have reportedly been lost which has had a devastating effect on people’s lives in the Western Cape. 

We have now shifted to Alert Level 1 with more sectors opening up, and we are now moving forward and focusing on our economic recovery with all the urgency of the health response in the Western Cape.  

This includes launching the Western Cape Covid-19 Business Relief Fund which commits R27 million to supporting small businesses in both the formal and informal sectors who have been hard-hit by Covid-19 restrictions in the Western Cape.

I would like to encourage all interested small businesses to apply. We look forward to receiving your submissions.

For more information on the Western Cape Covid-19 Business Relief Fund please visit https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/western-cape-c-19-business-relief-fund

The closing date for submissions is Monday, 12 October 2020 at 10:00.