Mr Nzimande recently revised the 2012 SETA Regulations, substituting various terms in an effort to avoid misinterpretation of the regulations by various stakeholder groupings.
Without knowledge of these changes, however, SDFs (skills development facilitators) completing workplace skills plans (WSP) and annual training reports (ATR) in order to claim back from skills development levies (SDL), could find the task somewhat confusing.
This is because as far as the revised SETA regulations are concerned the terms WSP and ATR no longer exist.
According to the 2013 revised Seta regulations the definition "ATR" (annual training report) has been deleted in various Regulations, the definition "WSP" (workplace skills plan) has been deleted in various Regulations, and the phrase "WSP and ATR" has been substituted with the word "Annexure 2" in various Regulations.
(Annexure 2 is the 2012 promulgated WSP and ATR template.)
This means that the preamble for the SETA Regulations now reads:
"The intent behind these regulations is to:
- regulate the proportion of funds available for skills development that is spent on administration
- provide for Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to contribute to the cost of the work of the Quality Council for Trade and Occupations (QCTO)
- discourage the accumulation of surpluses and the carry-over of unspent funds at the end of each financial year;
- improve the quantity and quality of labour market information received by SETAs in the form of workplace skills plans, annual training reports and PIVOTAL training reports
- to promote National Qualifications Framework (NQF) registered and quality assured PIVOTAL programmes that address priority scarce and critical skills needs identified in sector skills plans; and
- create a framework within which expanded use is made of public education and training providers for the provision of skills development programmes."
What this means is that once PIVOTAL (professional, vocational, technical and academic learning programmes) training reports (which will take the place of WSPs and ATRs) have been submitted to the SETAs, companies will be able to claim back the mandatory grant of 20% (originally 50%, reduced to 20% from April 2013).
In the case of discretionary grants the percentage companies can claim back was increased from 20% to 49.5%, with 80% of this being allocated to PIVOTAL programmes that result in qualifications or part qualifications.
Follow this link to view the full list of revisions to the 2012 SETA Regulations.
Or follow this link to view the original 2012 SETA Regulations.
For more information on SETAs and how to go about claiming from your SDL for training, visit Staff Training's SETA page.