270. Mr D B Feldman (COPE-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Labour:
Whether her department has received an amount of R60 million from the
National Treasury and the International Labour Organisation for the
professionalization of the inspectorate in the 2011-12 financial year;
if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the
details with regard to the expenditure of this amount? CW367E
The Minister of Labour reply:
For the implementation of professionalization of the inspectorate, the
department received an amount of R60 million from the National
Treasury and not from the International Labour Organisation. This was
primarily aimed at appointing additional staff to the inspectorate and
did not cover commensurate costs such as tools of the trade and other
associated costs. It was primarily aimed at remuneration of these
inspectors. The creation of these posts took longer than expected with
all of the consultation processes including those necessary with the
Treasury, Public Service and Administration as well as the
Departmental Bargaining Chamber.
It should be noted however that the amount so assigned to the
Department for Professionalization by Treasury was intended for a two
year period with the initial R28 million provided for the
establishment of the new specialist posts within the inspectorate and
the additional R32 million to cover the carry through costs for the
second year. Since the consultation process took longer than
anticipated by both Departments, the initial amount of R28 million
rand, with the approval from the National Treasury was assigned to
other departmental pressures such as the Chief Information Office
(R17Â 000Â 000) and Sheltered Employment factories (R11 805Â 000).
It is envisaged that that the unused amount will be utilized within
the current financial year since the consultation process has been
finalized, the necessary approvals has been sought and the posts have
been created within the inspectorate.