YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE INITIATIVE (Y.E.S.)

Background
Y.E.S. is a business-driven collaboration, breaking new ground by pioneering a partnership with government and labour, in collectively tackling a national plan to build economic pathways for the youth. Through innovation and technological best practice, it is meant to reignite the economy and give youth a dignified first chance and acquiring employment. Businesses are empowered through this programme to contribute and to be a co-creator of a future that works. Given the scale and implications of South Africa’s youth unemployment situation, the country cannot afford to fail, and ACS is contributing to this success story. Y.E.S. aims to create one million jobs for youth. In this process, a company can gain one or two levels on the B-BBEE scorecard, through its participation on the program. Thus, the Y.E.S. Initiative provides for, and institutes Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) recognition for measured entities and qualification criteria applicable towards the B-BBEE recognition for Job Creation.
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Criteria for employment & placement
To be eligible for Y.E.S., applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and unemployed at the time of application.The Y.E.S. employees are placed at ACS serviced airports and with beneficiary organisations on the company’s SME development and Socio-economic development programs.All ACS job vacancies, Y.E.S. included, are advertised through the company’s recruitment process.
 
Benefits of the Y.E.S. program
The YES 12-month quality work experience equips unemployed youth with a toolkit to be a beacon of hope for their families, households and communities. It enables companies to contribute towards the building of work experience for unemployed youth. It also has online work readiness modules to assist our youth to get ready for future job opportunities.The overarching benefit is that of poverty eradication and job creation for our unemployed youth, thereby getting our country future-fit.
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ACS progress to date
So far, the company has elected to participate in the Y.E.S. program and employed a total of 83 employees from April 2019 to calendar year 2021. Of these 83, eight (8) have acquired permanent employment, three in phase one of the program and 5 in the current intake.
To read more on the Y.E.S. program, go to https://yes4youth.co.za/for-youth/