Business Environments

Question 1

Purpose of the Skills Development Act

Answer 1

Redresses imbalances of the past through education and training.
Develops the skills of people in South Africa to improve productivity.
Invests in education and training.
Encourages workers to participate in learning programmes.

Question 2

Positives of the SDA

Answer 2

Businesses could become globally more competitive.
Workplace discrimination can be addressed through training.

Question 3

Negatives of the SDA

Answer 3

Many training service providers are not SAQA accredited.
Implementation of the SDA can be difficult to monitor and control.

Question 4

Actions that are considered non-compliant

Answer 4

Preventing employees from signing for a due to their age or position in the workplace.
Unfair promotion of skills and development/ training to certain employees.
Providing employment services for gain without being registered as an employer.
Furnishing false information in any prescribed document.

Question 5

Consequences of non-compliance

Answer 5

Businesses that do not pay the SDL may not offer learnerships/ claim grants from the SDA.
A labour inspector could order the business to stop operating should the business be found of illegal practices.

Question 6

Ways in which businesses can comply with the act

Answer 6

Employers who collect PAYE should register with the relevant SETAs.
Employers should submit a workplace skills plan and provide evidence that it was implemented.
Businesses with more than 50 employees must appoint a Skills Development Facilitator.
Provide all employees with the opportunity to improve their skills.

Question 7

Functions of SETAs

Answer 7

Develop skills plans in line with the National Skills Development Strategy.
Draw up skills development plans for their specific economic sectors.
Approve workplace skills plans and annual training reports.
Report to the Director General.

Question 8

Funding of SETA’s

Answer 8

Skills Development levies are paid by employers to SARS as a collecting agency for the government.
Surplus funds from government institutions.
Funds received from rendering their services.
Donations/Grants received from the public/businesses/CSI programmes.

Question 9

Meaning of Learnerships

Answer 9

A contract between a leaner, an employer and training providers for a specific period that leads to the acquisition of a national qualification.

Question 10

Purpose of the National Skills Development Strategy

Answer 10

Increase access to programmes that train people.
Make better use of workplace-based skills development.
Build career/vocational guidance/training centres.
Guides work of SETA’s/ the use of the National Skills Fund.

Question 11

The purpose of the Human Resource Development Strategy (HRDS)

Answer 11

Addresses skills shortages in the South African workforce.
Develops short-term and long-term workforce skills.
Improves the supply of skills.
Increases employee participation in lifelong learning.