Barloworld Logistics has heeded the call for youth employment in South Africa. As part of the Youth Employment Service (YES) Programme, the mobility services and solutions provider has offered 70 young people employment opportunities at AVIS Budget Rent a Car, a Business Unit within Barloworld Logistics.

What is the Youth employment service?

The Youth Employment Service is an initiative between business, government, labour, civil society and young people to empower them with one year’s work experience. Since inception, the Youth Employment Service programme has created 25 000 jobs and R773 million has been injected into the economy. “Avis has been in business in South Africa since 1969 and it is of great importance that we continue to give back to the community in which we operate. Through our partnership with the YES programme we join the movement towards collaboration with public, private and non-profit organisations for the benefit of society at large,” says Rainer Gottschick Chief Executive, Avis Budget Rent a Car. 

How will the programme work?

To experience the full value chain of the company’s operations, the young people are set to be involved in all parts of operations at Avis Budget Rent a Car; from preparing vehicles, ensuring they are ready for customers to working in the call centre, as administrators as well as rental agents.  The selection process and placement approach was very inclusive. “We did not discriminate against young people who possess no qualifications. The 70 is made up of young people with degrees, diplomas, post-matric certificates, matric as well as people without matric,” said Nosipiwo Ngxabazi, Executive: Diversity & Inclusion at Barloworld Automotive & Logistics.

The growing need for youth employment initiatives in South Africa

StatsSA reported that the unemployment rate has increased to 29% in the second quarter of the year. Quarter 1 of 2019 saw the highest increase of the unemployment rate since the end of 2017. “Unemployment is prevalent amongst our youth and as a responsible corporate citizen, it is indeed important that we play our part in changing the current landscape. We have access to resources and skills that can give young people a chance in life. It takes one corporate at a time to change the course for many under privileged and disadvantaged young people and we are simply contributing to this life-changing initiative,” said Kamogelo Mmutlana, CEO of Barloworld Automotive & Logistics.

By part-taking in this initiative, Barloworld Automotive & Logistics is living its purpose of inspiring a world of difference in the communities in which they operate in, through empowering young people to Defy Limits and take bold steps towards their future. “There is an intention to absorb as many as the business will be able to depending on the business needs. But beyond that, all the young people will leave Avis Budget Rent a Car equipped with work experience, life skills, knowing how to approach their search for employment, ready to handle interviews and they will be advised on how to compile their CVs so that their chances of getting employment elsewhere are improved,” concluded Ngxabazi.