The challenge confronting the Department of Labour is that while its resources are being reduced, the demand for services is increasing, the Portfolio Committee on Labour has heard.
The Department’s Director-General, Mr Thobile Lamati, said improving the capacity of frontline officials to ensure clients get good service is of paramount importance. He led a strong departmental delegation to Parliament to brief the Portfolio Committee on the Department and its entities’ strategic and annual performance plans (APPs).
“The strategic plan and the APP are drawn up in the context of happenings in our country. We took into consideration resources available and service delivery to our people. The Department is aiming to guarantee improved services to clients,” Mr Lamati said.
After the presentation, Committee Members raised concerns about the Department’s targets, which appeared to have been reduced.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Lumka Yengeni, said the targets should not be lowered for fear of not achieving, as it was impossible to achieve 100%. “You push what you have to the best of your ability. The reports presented to the Committee show the amount of work you are doing. Obviously Members will question if there is under achievement, but we understand you situation,” she said.
Ms Yengeni said the Department should set targets according to what it has available in the budget.
Committee Member Mr Ian Ollis, said: “To be told that you have reduced the targets is not okay. You cannot reduce your targets without an explanation. He also asked about the publication of two labour reports and whether copies of these would be published on the Department’s website and a copy forward to Parliament.
Mr Lamati said the Department tried to match its budget allocation with what officials have to achieve. “We would love to investigate every incident and resolve the cases 100%, but the reality is we do not have the inspectors to do that. We were allocated money to appoint more inspectors and the money was subsequently taken away. It would be irresponsible to expect the officials that do this work to perform miracles,” he said.
During its presentation, the Department said that it has made good progress and is developing a communication strategy to tell South Africans about these achievements. 216 inspections are planned for 2017 and non-compliant employers will be served with notification letters. 500 000 work seekers will be registered, 8 000 of whom the Department hopes to place in learning opportunities. A minimum wage commission is due to be established by the end of March 2018.
The National Economic Development and Labour Council and the Compensation Fund are still to present strategic plans and APPs to the Committee.
Sibongile Maputi
3 May 2017
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