The design and implementation of Workplace Skills Plans in South Africa

Abstract

Workplace Skills Plans form part of the compliance requirement aligned to the objectives of the Skills Development Act (No. 97 of 1998). South African employers are required to submit a completed Workplace Skills Plan to the Sector Education Training Authority which represents their sector of business. Successful submission of a Workplace Skills Plan qualifies employers for a disbursement of levies paid to the Sector Education Training Authorities via SARS. The value of Workplace Skills Plans is in question as the design and implementation processes are arduous and time-consuming. The principles of effective training are often found to be left wanting when the basis of information against which Workplace Skills Plans are designed and implemented is considered. This is a qualitative study including multiple case studies in which structured interviews were held with three South African organisations, all participating in the levy-grant scheme set up by the Skills Development Levies Act (No. 9 of 1999). Thematic analysis was then utilised to establish commonalities in the feedback obtained. The case study findings indicate that organisations do not consider the Workplace Skills Plan a valuable document and rarely ensure that their organisational strategy is aligned with either the Sector Education Training Authority‟s sector skills plan or the National Skills Development Strategy. There must be a clear linkage between the National Skills Development Strategy, SETA Sector Skills Plans and organisational strategies in order to align these and ensure successful design and implementation of Workplace Skills Plans