still has crucial empowerment role to play
15 May 2007
The Labour Minister has once again expressed confidence in the abilities of
Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) as the government's flagship
skills empowerment and job creation tool. Addressing journalists in Cape Town
on Monday night Minister Mdladlana said that while no formal decision had been
taken, he would not rule out changes in the format of Setas and was in favour
of a system with fewer Setas.
While his Ministry had listened carefully to debates and calls for the
reviewing of the Setas, he was still awaiting recommendations as to what
actually needed to be reviewed. "I must say, however, that having been involved
in the amalgamation of up to five or in some cases six very distinct industry
training boards into a single Seta in 1999, and having initiated the first
review of Setas in 2004 after their first five years of existence, I understand
the complexities associated with this process," he said.
This, he said, did not however, mean the existing landscape of Setas cannot
be adjusted between now and 31 March 2010, the time limit of the current
National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) 2005/10 phase in terms of the
Skills Development Act regulations. This is especially if a Seta becomes
dysfunctional or is just not delivering on its targets.
"This does not suggest that Setas and other education and skills development
provider-institutions cannot work in clusters to assist us in addressing skills
shortages and the plight of the unemployed in the country." Seta detractors
have been calling for their scrapping without any clear alternatives being put
forward.
"I will call for a formal Seta review when the law requires that I do. And
that will be soon since the regulation requires that any Seta or any other
group that wants to become a Seta again apply to me at least a year before
being established. "So applications will need to reach me by 31 March 2009,
less than two years from now. Until then, things will stay the same," he
said.
Expressing concern at Setas that had negative annual audit results recently,
Minister Mdladlana said the audit process currently underway would give me
"very good pointers" as to which Setas could possibly be merged with others.
"Setas that went to SCOPA last year will need to make sure they have their act
together this year or else they will have me breathing down their necks," he
said.
The Minister took a swipe at structures that he said had gone to expensive
lengths sometimes at taxpayers' expense on reviewing the Setas. "But even then
I am still not clear as to what this Seta Review that I must do is all about. I
am waiting for a very clear and simple advice and until then we continue as we
are," he said. "I still believe that the solution of some of the problems
experienced in some Setas that are not doing well lies in the implementation of
the Growth and Development Summit Agreement of 2003. We agreed that government
departments, trade unions and employers should assign dedicated and accountable
people to serve on the boards of these institutions and this has not happened
to my satisfaction."
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Tel: 082 906 3878
E-mail: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
15 May 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
