Department of Labour’s consistent performance monitoring pays off
The Department of Labour has registered a phenomenal performance in the first quarter of the 2018/19 by scoring an 80 percent rating, building on the recovery experienced in the past financial year.
The news was disclosed at a Departmental Executive Committee meeting held in Pretoria. Ms Nolukholo Sigaba, Chief Director: Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Unit in the Department of Labour said during the presentation that the improved performance was attributable to the dedication of staff and management.
An elated Department of Labour Director-General Thobile Lamati was encouraged by the improved performance of the Department of Labour in general and Public Employment Services (PES) branch in particular albeit the challenges posed by a sluggish economy and high levels of youth unemployment in the country.
“The department is pulling out all the stops to register on its database employment opportunities and to facilitate the placement of work seekers with employers, particularly the unemployed youth,” said Lamati.
Leading in performance has been the Public Employment Services branch of the department whose main functions are: registration of job vacancies and other work opportunities, facilitate the placement of work seekers with employers or in other work opportunities.
Some of the factors that led to the turnaround has been an increase in the number of inspections of workplaces for compliance with labour laws despite the fact that the number of inspectors has relatively remained the same. This has seen a sharp increase in the number of cases of non-compliant employers that has been referred to court.
It is also imperative to note that the department has prioritised effective financial management and management of government resources in general. All cases of irregular expenditure are closely monitored and reported to the Accounting Officer to take disciplinary measures in case of gross violation.
Lamati said the onslaught on meeting service delivery targets and against non-compliance would continue unhindered. He said control measures are in place to unearth more cases of financial irregularities and means to deal with them.
“Whilst the department obtained an unqualified audit for the financial year 2017/18 the department has put its shoulder to the wheel to enforce the control measures that are in place, change behaviour through training and education and discipline in cases of gross negligence and evident fraud and corruption,” said Lamati.
