Why should you read this pamphlet?

This pamphlet is issued to employers to assist them in participating in the levy grant scheme.

The pamphlet provides useful information to you as an employer on the appointment and use of a Skills Development Facilitator as prescribed in the regulations and guidelines for the disbursement of funds during year 1 (1 April 2000 - 31 March 2001).

The regulations and guidelines for the disbursement of grants during year 1, which was approved by the National Skills Authority in January 2000, make provision for the employment and use of a Skills Development Facilitator by an employer.

The Skills Development Facilitator will be responsible for the development and planning of a firm’s or a group of firms’ skills development strategy for a specific period. This will include the development and implementation of an annual workplace skills plan and the submission of an annual training report.

He or she will also serve as a resource to the employer with regard to the criteria required for accreditation of courses, skills programmes and learnership development.

The registration of the Skills Development Facilitator must be approved by the relevant Sectoral Education and Training Authority (SETA) by 15 May 2000.

In the first year of the levy grant scheme you can recover in grants a minimum of 50% of the levy you have paid on condition that you meet all the requirements as set out in the regulations and guidelines for the disbursement of funds during year 1. These grants are referred to as grants A, B, C and D. For the appointment and registration of a Skills Development Facilitator - Grant A - you will be able to recover 15% of the levy you have paid. Employers must first nominate, register and have approved a Skills Development Facilitator with the relevant SETA, before they can apply for Grants B, C and D.

Employers who have nominated and registered a Skills Development Facilitator, will be able to recover grants B, C and D by complying with the following criteria:

• Grant B:

An employer will be able to recover 10% of the total levy payment for preparing, submitting and obtaining approval from the SETA for a workplace skills plan.

• Grant C:

An employer will be able to recover a further 20% of the total levy payment by preparing and submitting an annual training report based on the approved workplace skills plan.

• Grant D:

Each SETA will make available grants to the equivalent of 5% of the total levy payment by the employer for specific sector skills initiatives. The criteria will be made available by your relevant SETA.

An employer must appoint a competent Skills Development Facilitator who is able to perform the functions below and who is:

• a worker; or
• a formally contracted, external person; or
• a person who is jointly employed by you and a number of other employers to assess the skills development needs of the group of employers and workers concerned.

The Skills Development Facilitator will be expected to perform the following functions:

• Assist the employer and workers with the development of a workplace skills plan.
• Submit the workplace skills plan to the relevant SETA.
• Advise the employer on the implementation of the workplace skills plan.
• Assist the employer with the drafting of an annual training report against the approved workplace skills plan.
• Advise the employer on the quality assurance requirements as set by the relevant SETA.
• Serve as a contact person between the employer and the relevant SETA.

Four unit standards were developed under the auspices of the Standards Generating Body for occupation-directed education, training and development practitioners to equip Skills Development Facilitators to perform the above mentioned functions. These unit standards will eventually be registered with SAQA to form a qualification. You are advised to contact your SETA should you need more information on training opportunities for Skills Development Facilitators.

Yes, annexure B of the regulations on the disbursement of funds during year 1 contains guidelines on how to compile a workplace skills plan.

Yes, annexure C of the regulations on the disbursement of funds during year 1 contains guidelines on how to compile an annual training report based on your approved workplace skills plan.

If you fail to comply with the requirements for a grant recovery, you will forfeit the grant. The Director-General may approve recommendations from the SETA and the NSA on the use of the unclaimed levy funds in the SETA, which could be used for:

• Grants to employers for training in specific high need areas.
• Incentives to encourage participation in the Skills Development Levy Scheme.
• Promotion of the objectives of the sector skills plan and national priorities.

Employers with more than 50 workers should establish an in-company training committee for consultation with regard to skills development. Where a firm is unionised the union/management structures can fulfill this function.

Watch the media for further information on the implementation of the levy grant scheme from April 2000.