Hon Deputy Speaker, in reply to the question by the chairperson of the portfolio committee, the Department of Correctional Services does have a vacancy rate of 6,5% in the specialised field of artisans.
However, the artisan field in Correctional Services - we're talking about plumbers, fitters, motor mechanics and electricians here - is very broad, and the department is not experiencing shortages in all fields. Each vacant post is, therefore, dealt with on merit, in order to ensure the effective functioning of that specific trade.
The prepared reply goes as follows:
(a) The department has advertised 102 artisan posts since September 2006. Higher salaries have also been offered to artisans where a critical shortage exists. It's not an easy task to retain artisans, due to the high demand and very high salaries in the broad labour market, which government departments cannot compete with. However, the department has resorted to making counter-offers in an effort to retain their services.
b) The position of artisan, as with other scarce-skills occupational classes, has been revised and a new code of remuneration has been developed to cater for the specific needs of artisans. However, the impact of the high salaries and the different working conditions, which are also difficult within Correctional Services and in the labour market, is not only being felt with regard to artisans, and, therefore, the department is addressing all these scarce-skills occupational classes within the available budgetary allocations and the Department of Public Service and Administration mandates. Other initiatives, such as bonus incentives and payments for trade tests are also being considered under the department's recruitment and retention strategy.
Thank you.