Academy for Skills Training and Development

Note 1:

The recent notice published in the Government Gazette of 29 April 2011 (Notice 271 of 2011) for comment, regarding  the payment of mandatory grants, propose the following amendments to the Grant Regulations :

The mandatory grant to be paid by the SETA (for submission of WSP/ATRs) -

(a) must be equivalent to 40% of the total levies by the employer

(b) must in addition to the 40% (contemplated in (a) above also include 10% of the total levies paid by the employer should the employer utilise 10% of total levies paid to fund unemployed learners on pivotal programmes

Note 2:

The definition of PIVOTAL programmes is as follows: “PIVOTAL Programmes” means professional, vocational, technical and academic learning programmes that result in occupational qualifications and may include a knowledge component that is normally delivered at a further education and training college or a university as well as structured learning in an accredited training centre of an approved workplace”.

Types of learning programmes that qualify under PIVOTAL Programmes include: Learnerships, apprenticeships, internships & work experience related to diploma / certificate / vocational programmes offered at FETs,  HETs and other accredited providers

Note 3:

Only funding provided by Employers in terms of unemployed learners not funded through SETA discretionary grants, will be taken into consideration in the calculation of the total amount spent.

Note 4:

Firms must calculate the cost of funding of the workplace component taking into consideration related expenses such as allowances paid, cost of coaching and mentoring and internal training costs. Records of these expenses must be kept at the firm for verification purposes.

Academy for Skills Development and training provides the following core services:

• Skills Development Facilitating
• Employment Equity Facilitating
• Accreditation
• R.P.L Assessment
• Industry-specific Training

Please contact us, for more information regarding the services we offer.

Academy for Skills training and development has extensive experience in compiling and handing in our clients’ employment equity reports.

The deadline is the 1st October anually, so contact us for professional advise regarding this matter.

More about employment equity…
The Employment Equity Act applies to all employers, workers and job applicants, but not members of the:
National Defence Force;
National Intelligence Agency; and
South African Secret Service.
The provisions for affirmative action apply to:

Employers with 50 or more workers, or whose annual income is more than the amount specified in Schedule 4 of the Act;
municipalities;
organs of State;
employers ordered to comply by a bargaining council agreement;
any employers who volunteer to comply.

When Must Employers Report?
Employers with less than 150 workers must send their reports within 12 months after they become employers; and thereafter every year ending with an even number. Employers with more than 150 workers must send their reports within 6 months after they become employers; and thereafter
every year on the first working day in October.

No matter which industry you operate in, it is unlikely that training and skills development are part of your core business. Non-core elements such as these can become costly and time-consuming to manage, and while they are necessary to your organisation’s growth and development, can detract from your core business, and weaken your focus on doing what you do best.

Outsourcing your skills development, employment equity planning and training to AST&D brings the following benefits:

• Decreases the expenses associated with permanent staff, such as medical aid, pension, bonuses and car allowances;
• Offers access to service providers who are specialists in their fields;
• Flexible solutions;
• Trainers come to you, wherever your business/branch is located;
• Fixed term contracts are renewable;
• Contracts include service level agreements that offer both parties various options;
• We help you not only comply with skills development standards, but exceed them.

Did you know? It is a legal requirement that companies who pay skills development levies must appoint a skills development facilitator. Outsourcing this function of your business to professionals makes the most sense.