The Western Cape economy will shed an estimated 240 000 jobs as a result of national lockdown regulations, with 104 505 jobs being from the tourism sector alone.
Deidré Baartman MPP said: “In a presentation made by the provincial Department of Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism last week, it was revealed that tourism in the Western Cape is under extreme pressure doing this period. Tourism will account for approximately 43% of employment losses in the province while 50% of all tourism businesses are expected to close down.”
With the ongoing economic and fiscal uncertainty, it is crucial that national government starts implementing a strategy that would ensure large-scale job creating industries such as tourism and construction are protected from further collapse. In the Western Cape, R14.9bn in income is expected to be lost to people who are employed by the construction industry in 2020 if lockdown regulations continue to be stringent and hostile towards this sector.”
Deidré Baartman MPP added: “While both national and provincial government department’s have provided relief packages to businesses; this is still not enough to mitigate the severe impact of this pandemic.
We call on the national Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, to revisit regulations that will allow for more tourism and construction activities to resume, in line with health and safety protocols.”
This pandemic demands continued efforts by all spheres of government. The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to growing our provincial economy and protect jobs where we govern.
