-GRANT APPROVAL PROCESS-
WSP, WSPIR AND DISCRETIONARY GRANT
CRITERIA FOR APPROVING WORKPLACE SKILLS PLAN ANDTRAINING IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS
Introduction
The criteria that is set out below has been formulated to serve as a guideline to receive information on training/skills plans, training implementation as well as inform the SETA which skills initiatives to embark on.
In order for the SETA to be relevant to stakeholders, we need to ascertain the relevance and usability of the information provided to the SETA by the companies. The relevance of the information provided is of significance to ISETT SETA as decisions labour market supply and demand may be taken based on the particular information. Thus compliance to the criteria will ensure that not only we can deduce sector information necessary for our knowledge base as well as decision making purposes.
Information standardization
The SETA has provided WSP and WSPIR templates/questionnaires based on grant regulations provided by DoL and we would like to encourage companies to submit information based on the templates that are provided.
This will ensure that there is
v Standardisation and compatibility of information
v General efficiency of administering the information processing
The SETA can only fully utilize the information received quickly and effectively if it is standardized.
PROCESS
Grant A - Registration of SDF’s
It is a requirement of ISETT SETA that SDF’s representing companies in this sector should register online on our website www.isett.org.za. To register online one has to go to the tab online grant system. The system is web based and online ISETT employees can see applications all the time real-time. Increase in efficiency and turnaround time will be experienced. Once SDF’s have registered and have been approved, they should furnish the SETA with the following:
· A letter written on a letterhead of the represented company confirming that the SDF is indeed representing the company on issues of Skills development
· The same letter should also include the banking details of the company so that grants will be paid into it. (Please ensure that the banking details in the letter are the same as those in the online grant system)
· The third issue is that the letter should be signed by one of the company’s officials i.e. Owners/ Directors/ managers
· For Independent SDF’s the above will apply but if there is a service level agreement between the ISDF and the company the ISDF should advice the SETA at this stage. They should also include percentage splits between the company and the ISDF as agreed upon in the detailed SLA.
· Companies who require their funds to be moved from other SETA’s should inform the SSP department so that we can help facilitate inter-seta transfers. Over and above that, the SDF should alert the SETA so that the companies data should be manually loaded onto the system and allow the companies access to their information.
Skills Development facilitators (SDF’s)
SDF qualifications and experience
In order for an SDF to deliver effectively to both the SETA and the organisation of employment, the SDF has to have a broad understatnding of issues in the:
v training arena
v ICT sector
v Human resources development regulations
v general business environment
v business operations and strategies for their own organisations.
This person should be able to compile information in these fields and package it in such a way that it should benefit their organisation as well as advise their organisation on training needs and priorities. In the past the SETA has accepted any SDF who had registered, but more and more we will look at the skills of the SDF’s matched to the organisation they should represent.
§ SDF status – whether the SDF is an employee or a contractor of the company
§ If the SDF is a contractor, how many other companies he/she represents as a SDF and what value they add to the companies
APPROVAL PROCESS
The figure below outlines the process that is to be followed when the ISETT SETA approves grant payment:
Grant A – Workplace skills plan
The following set of criteria should be complied with and encompasses WSP’s and WSPIR’s.
CRITERIA A
§ The existence and nonexistence of a training committee should be provided. For those companies that have more than 50 employees confirmation of the existence of the committee is needed. Members of the committee should sign the confirmation and endorse the submitted documents.
§ The main business activity for each company should be clearly stated. This should be done with the existing SIC codes as provided by the SETA. It is highly imperative that when the SETA receives information, the information should be standardised, as we will be enabled to make comparative analysis and trace the trends that are emerging.
§ The Standard Occupational Categories (SOC) codes should be clearly stated. The use of the Online Grant system will help and guide the SDF of which job categories fall under which SOC codes.
§ The employment profile applicable for the particular grant system should be outlined. The profile should indicate race, gender, disability as well as the occupational groups of the employees as outlined and guided by the SETA.
§ Development and consultative process - This information will allow the SETA to get an indication of the types of consultative processes involved in the development of grant applications.
§ Authorisation details - This form is proof of training undertaken and certifies the accuracy of the Implementation Grant. ISETT may call for evidence of training undertaken, so employers should be certain the training records are retained. In addition, the authorisation is proof that levy payments to South African Revenue Services are up-to-date. Where applicable, the authorised signatory takes responsibility for the IR on behalf of each form for each subsidiary in the group. This person may include a CEO, Managing Director, Managing Partner, Financial Director etc … The signatory is responsible for authenticating the contents of the document, and represents the organisation in this verification process. ISETT is to receive the signed document.
CRITERIA B
EDUCATION AND TRAINING INTERVENTIONS
The following information regarding Education and Training interventions should be provided:
§ Information on the number of employees who have received training during the relevant year for the specific Grant System. (If this is applicable – This is for the SETA to record the number of people trained in the year and is not meant to exclude anyone)
§ Sound strategic priorities of organizations. The SETA needs to understand business priorities areas for companies and thus align skills development to some of the priorities identified.
§ Skills development required to achieve priorities
§ Education and training interventions required for the skills needed (this should include the courses to be delivered)
§ Comprehensive training plan (this plan should reflect upon the education and training interventions identified)
§ Vacancies that were difficult or impossible to be filled (where applicable) The SETA needs to understand which are scarce skills in the sector and those jobs that companies find it hard to fill. The information will help the SETA to develop skills initiatives, skills development programmes as well as Learnership that are in line with the scarce skills identified.
§ Information on future recruitment as well as reasons thereof (where applicable)
§ Quality assurance to be used for the planned activities
§ Other relevant information not mentioned above which will be specific to the different grant phases should be provided
IMPLEMENTATION REPORT - CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE
The Implementation Report approval process as summarised in the WSPIR guideline is as follows:
1. The organisation has been approved for the WSP. This includes the registration of an SDF and the submission of a WSP onto the ISETT’s website.
2. The Implementation report has been completed correctly and submitted in ISETT’s required template. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
3. The Implementation report is signed off in accordance with the ISETT’s requirements.
4. The Implementation report is submitted to ISETT by no later than the set deadline.
5. The organization is registered with the ISETT and the levy contributions are up-to-date.
6. The Implementation report is submitted onto the ISETT’s website WWW.isett.org.za before the deadline
7. Submission of a hard signed copy of the authorisation form sent to ISETT for the attention of the SSP Manager.
The report on the work place skills plan implementation should comply with the following set of criteria:
§ A comprehensive summary of the training report as set out in criteria A and criteria B should be provided.
§ A detailed and comprehensive outline of the education and training programs undertaken. This should be, although flexible, in line with the training plan as it serves as a report of the initial plan in the WSP.
§ It should be convincing to the SETA that indeed training did occur in order for the grant to be paid. (The SETA reserves the right to decline approval if training reported to have bee implemented did not happen)
Criteria C – Specific skills initiatives
The following set of criteria is applicable to organisations that wish to claim for grant C based on specific skills initiatives, which they feel they should be reimbursed for.
In order for the employees to be able to claim for this grant they should meet the following criteria:
v A workplace skills plan must have been submitted to ISETT SETA during the current year
v A workplace skills plan implementation report
v Demonstrate awareness of/and contribution towards ISETT’s strategic objectives as set out in the SSP document.
Process:
v The Non-discretionary Grant form must be completed in full
v Grant application must reach ISETT by the deadline date
The grant is payable to employers participating in one or more of the following activities:
v Learnerships
v Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) programmes (defined as any training towards the attainment of Grade 9/Std 7/Form 2/NQF Level 1)
v Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programmes
v HIV/AIDS awareness programmes
v Employment Equity development programmes (including training, development of employment equity plans)
v National standards for enterprise-based people development [e.g. Investors in People (IIP)]
v Computer literacy
v Training carried out at Industry recognised Training Providers. Proof of invoice will have to be provided to document the training undertaken.
v Assisted Learners with financial aid for Bursaries, Technikon Fees, or Private Training Provider special purpose occupational training courses.
v Course fees or contribution to disabled training.
v Social responsibility to the disadvantaged. This applies to bridging courses designed to bring people, who are not currently employed, into the ISETT sector. Employment of students from the BEST Programme qualifies.
v In-house training, which results in an assessment (written or oral) of the content being taught. The course should be of longer than 10 hours of national learning.
§ Companies need not have complied with the grant A and B criterion. The published rules in the Gazette do not tie the first two grant criteria to that for Grant B. Companies will however have to provide the ISETT SETA with proof of registration to the ISETT SETA, as well as levy payments and receipt by SARS, for the period of eligibility.
Non-compliance with the above criteria
Companies that do not comply with the above criteria, be it for any of the different phases of the grant system will be:
§ Given a chance to work with ISETT SETA staff to modify and provide the relevant information required, prior to grant payments
§ Failure to which will result in forfeiture of the particular grant.
Enquiries on the above can be forwarded to
SSP Manager on 805 5115
Call Center 0861 12 00 12
Criteria for approving WSP’s and WSIR’s – 2001/2 and 2002/3
© ISETT SETA
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