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Public Employment Programmes in South Africa’s Changing Social Protection Landscape

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  • Kate PHILIP

Abstract

The paper examines the role of Public Employment Programs (PEPs) within South Africa’s evolving social protection landscape, emphasizing their intersection with unemployment, inequality, and social policy. The study highlights structural inequalities—such as land dispossession, concentrated economic power, and spatial inequities—that perpetuate poverty and unemployment.It outlines the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the introduction of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant and the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES). These initiatives have redefined the relationship between social assistance and public employment. The paper argues for PEPs to pivot from merely providing income support to leveraging the added value of work, enhancing social inclusion, and fostering skills development.It recommends integrated, differentiated strategies to address diverse labour market challenges, advocating for scalable, rights-based employment guarantees and adaptive policy frameworks to balance social and economic imperatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Kate PHILIP, 2025. "Public Employment Programmes in South Africa’s Changing Social Protection Landscape," Working Paper a81a7ff1-ce8b-4803-b5ad-7, Agence française de développement.
    • Handle: RePEc:avg:wpaper:en17773
    as

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    File URL: https://www.afd.fr/sites/afd/files/2025-01-02-58-24/PEPs-Social-Protection-and-Policy-in-South-Africa.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arden Finn, 2015. "A National Minimum Wage in the Context of the South African Labour Market," SALDRU Working Papers 153, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    2. Mr. Montfort Mlachila & Tlhalefang Moeletsi, 2019. "Struggling to Make the Grade: A Review of the Causes and Consequences of the Weak Outcomes of South Africa’s Education System," IMF Working Papers 2019/047, International Monetary Fund.
    3. William Mitchell & Joan Muysken, 2008. "Full Employment Abandoned," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1188.
    4. Mr. Jonathan David Ostry & Mr. Andrew Berg & Mr. Charalambos G Tsangarides, 2014. "Redistribution, Inequality, and Growth," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 2014/002, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Rahul Anand & Siddharth Kothari & Naresh Kumar, 2016. "South Africa: Labor Market Dynamics and Inequality," IMF Working Papers 2016/137, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Jonathan David Ostry & Andrew Berg & Charalambos G Tsangarides, 2014. "Redistribution, Inequality, and Growth," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 14/02, International Monetary Fund.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics

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