268. Mr D B Feldman (COPE-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(1) Whether her department has finalised the professionalization of
the Inspectorate; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(2) whether the already skilled and experienced Labour Inspectors at
SR6 salary level who are already staff members in this section
of her department will be recognised for promotion; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether there are currently any vacancies in the Labour
Inspectorate; if not, what is the position in this regard; if
so, (a) what is the national staff compliment of the Labour
Inspectorate and (b) what are the further relevant details?
CW365E
The Minster of Labour reply:
The Professionalization of the Inspectorate is an on-going programme that
takes into consideration a number of aspects:
1. The ability of the Department to provide a professional service and
respond adequately to the place of work
2. The need to build the appropriate capacity in the organisation to
provide such a specialised service,
3. The appointment of persons with the relevant skills sets to provide
the required service
With respect to the capacity building arm of the inspectorate we firstly,
in consultation with the PSETA have registered the necessary learnership
programme as well as a recognition of prior learning programme in order to
bring all inspectors to the NQF5 level (for those that have as yet not
attained this level). Secondly we are in the process of identifying a
service provider that would be able to train a cohort of inspectors
specifically Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors to conduct in depth
investigations. Thirdly we have trained a number of Client Service Officers
(67) on both the elements of the law as well as a âtrain the trainer
programmeâ in order to increase our training footprint in the country.
With respect to whether current staff members will be recognized for
promotion, all staff members who have the relevant experience and
qualifications would be considered for promotion in the event that such
opportunities for promotion exists. Our training programme as identified
above (Learnership and recognition of Prior Learning) recognizes this
reality and is intended to provide an equal playing field for all our
inspectors. However promotion for the sake of promotion only does not form
part of the staff retention and staff development strategy of the
department.
With respect to vacancies in the inspectorate, as with any vibrant learning
organisation, the scope for vacancies to arise does exist. The Department
is therefore constantly in the process of filling these vacancies and will.
As at 1 May 2013, there were 1087 staff members on the establishment for
Inspection and Enforcement Services (the inspectorate including support
staff); 46 vacancies existed at that time whilst 1041 posts were filled.