'Blue-collar army the key to economic growth'

South Africa needs a bluecollar army for the economy to grow, according to Dr Ruben Richards, newly appointed CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We pay lip service to the blue collar worker in our society not realising they are the underbelly of our economy. It is not cool to be a bluecollar person; our young people do not want to be welders and plumbers and electricians,” he said. “We are not attaching a value to these jobs. Instead as a society we encourage youngsters to become doctors, lawyers, bankers. They do not grow an economy. They help to manage the growth, but the skills that grow an economy belong to the tradesmen – everyday South Africans – and we are in a dire situation if we don’t create an army of these workers to turn our economy around.” Speaking to FTW following his appointment, Richards said growing trade was imperative not just in the Western Cape but across the country - but that required a mindset change around blue collar workers. Richards said across the sectors in the country skills shortages remained the most critical challenge. “We have to inspire young people to become artisans, to become the tradesmen that manufacture the things that other people want to buy. That is how we reinvigorate the economy and stimulate trade and turn this entire situation around.” Rubens, a former deputy director general of the Scorpions, started his career as a fitter and turner in a factory. “It is not rocket science,” said Richards. “People will only buy things from South Africa if we make things they want. We have to start making things and to do that we need a blue collar army.” At the same time this would address unemployment and to a certain extent the country’s crime problem, he said. “Business can fix unemployment but we need a political environment where business can thrive, one where entrepreneurship is encouraged,” he said. “We have to turn the economic fortunes of the country around and that means finding ways of including more people rather than excluding them from entrepreneurial opportunities.” CAPTION It is not business as usual in the Western Cape ... Dr Ruben Richards, newly appointed CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.