Planning for employee skills development? - Gayle Adlam
2015-03-03

The deadline for the submission of all companies' workplace skills plans (WSP) and annual training reports (ATR) to their appropriate industry Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) closes on midnight on the 30 April 2015. Skills development plays a critical role in contributing towards employment equity and succession planning. Employee development also ensures that your company's business goals are achieved. In addition, your company gains a competitive edge in the market place as an employer of choice for staff development. Each month, organisations and companies with a total annual payroll of R500, 000.00 and more contribute 1% of their total annual payroll in the form of a Skills Development Levy (SDL) contribution to the Skills Development Fund, which is administered by the South African Revenue Services in accordance with legislation. This contribution is reflected on the organisation's monthly EMP 201 form, which also reflects PAYE and UIF paid. In order to receive payment of your company's mandatory grant, as well as to gain access to discretionary grants, organisations that contribute Skills Development Levies are required to submit an Annual Training Report (ATR), Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and/or the PIVOTAL Training Plan (PTP) and the PIVOTAL Training Report (PTR) to the SETA with which they are registered. The ATR and the PTR provide data relating to the training that was implemented during the previous year, and the WSP and the PTP provide data relating to the training that is intended to be implemented during the forthcoming year. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Skills Development is one of the most critical aspects of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B -BBEE) codes as through this priority element the skills shortage in South Africa will now be addressed. The consequence of noncompliance with the minimum targets will be that a measured entity will drop one level on the scorecard. Of significance is that companies will not score any points on their B-BBEE scorecard if they have not submitted their annual WSP and ART. In addition, proof of the submission will be required when calculating points on the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE scorecard. It will also be essential that companies implement Learnerships and Internships.
To access funding, applications for these positions should be included in the WSP. All Qualifying Small Enterprises must also comply with the new B-BBEE Codes. These notable aspects make compliance with the Skills Development Act even more critical.

Bafundise Skills
Email: gayle@bafundise.co.za
Cell: 0836530465
www.bafundise.co.za