Minister Dlodlo advises government to use internet as an aditional option for reference checks in recruitment
The Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ms. Ayanda Dlodlo has on Wednesday, 13 February confirmed a circular issued by her department regarding the use of internet as an additional platform for reference checks on candidates who are looking for employment in the Public Service.
The circular to all government departments, which is not prescriptive but advisory in nature, is intended to ensure that government’s recruitment processes are enhanced with the use of other platforms beyond the traditional means of screening.
The Minister says that the Public Service has an obligation to ensure that all those recruited into the system fit with the legislative and policy prescripts of government. These include; the National Development Plan which places a responsibility on government to Professionalize the Public Service and section 195 (1) (a) of the Constitution which states that “Public Administration must be governed by principles that foster a high standard of professional ethics”.
Furthermore, Articles 5 and 7 of The Public Service Charter commit all parties to a set of Service Standards and ethical standards for public servants on how to treat and serve members of the public. In addition, it’s the eight Batho Pele Principles which are a set of values aimed at guiding public servants on how to perform their duties.
“In order for us to recruit individuals that meet the above prescripts, we need to employ all tools and methodologies of screening including the use of internet and social media in particular” said the Minister.
She however cautioned that “this circular does not seek to restrict the constitutional rights to privacy of any individual or group of people seeking employment in the Public Service, it also does not seek to suppress or muzzle any ideological or political views of people whatsoever – neither is it designed to disadvantage South Africans on the basis of party political affiliation.”
“People should remember that we are on a path to building a professional Public Service and such an endeavor requires that we become meticulous in the recruitment of our employees – we want to build a new organizational culture that will help us achieve our objectives”. She added.
Research around the world indicates that the use of internet and social media in particular has helped organizations both in identifying exceptional talent and in other instances, to avoid negligent hiring. For example, a Career Builder Survey of 2018 indicates that 33% of employers found content that made them more likely to hire the employee and 23% found information that led to direct hiring of applicants. This proves that such online content can be an employee’s best advocate.
She emphasized the fact that departments who exercised the option to broaden their verification through the internet should obtain the consent of the candidate concerned. “We are fully aware of the constitutional obligations on privacy of every individual and the fact that government is still seized with the task of developing a policy on internet use. That is why it is important to obtain the consent of the candidate when such web searches are be conducted” she said.
The Minister concluded by assuring prospective candidates that they would not be prejudiced for their refusal to consent to a web search on their profile. “This recruitment practice is not a mechanism to prejudice people, it is an international trend in recruitment and as a country aspiring to digitize its systems, and use social media as an empowering tool, it is time that we embraced such practices to enhance the professionalization of the Public Service” she said.
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