Skills development strategy: together we are getting the skills development show on the road

Abstract

Paper presented at the South African Transport Conference 17 - 20 July 2000 "Action in transport for the new millennium", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT: The Skills Development Strategy of the Minister of Labour is intended to provide a framework and set of strategic objectives within which industry and government can massively increase their commitment to uplifting their people - not just in general but specifically in order to achieve their own strategic priorities and targets. Whilst the long term incentive is to ensure that people are able to design and implement strategies for economic and employment growth and social development - the short term incentive is money! The Skills Development Levies Act introduces a Skills Development Levy which collects a small percentage (0,5% in the first year, and 1% in the years thereafter) of payroll from all employers, and then makes these funds available as grants to those employers that train. Those that choose not to claim will end up subsidizing those that do - and hence everyone will be contributing towards the upliftment of our people. Some 20% of the funds collected will be used to support the training of the unemployed and vulnerable members of our society. Whilst the money is to be collected by the South African Revenue Services, 80% of it will be managed and disbursed by industry contolled bodies (on which the relevant government department may also play a key role) to be known as Sector Education and Training Authorities or SETAs. These SETAs are charged, under the legislation, to keep a close relationship with the employers in their sector and ensure that future trends and challenges are anticipated in respect of skills. The transport sector is no different. The Transport Education and Training Sector or TETA, like other SETAs, has been established and now carries the mandate to carry forward the skills development revolution in the sector. It must scan the industry - and all the sub-industries - to determine priorities and targets aligned to national strategic initiatives of government and induced by the market or technology, it must disburse the grant to firms that train, and it must ensure that the training that does take place is of an industry-approved (and indeed national) standard. It must also ensure that groups, such as the taxi's and other smaller players in the industry are not neglected. It also needs to replenish the industry's skills pool by entering young people and others in learnerships. The Skills Revolution has begun - but needs industry's support to be fully realised.