Employers, organisations and training providers registered with the Fibre Processing & Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&MSeta) have until midnight on 30 April 2022 to upload their skills development reports.
The FP&MSeta’s CEO, Dr Felleng Yende, urges employers not to wait until the last minute to submit their reports online. She says the organisation proactively runs weekly online workshops to explain the reporting and discretionary grant application requirements.
“We are changing over to a new learning management information system (LMIS). Although we will coach you on using the system, there may be teething problems,” cautions PK Naicker, the general manager. “If you have registered with us, your information should be available on the new LMIS. Please don’t wait until the last minute because we may not be able to assist you on time,” he said.
Naicker reminds employers to confirm that their skills development levy payments are up to date and appoint an internal or external skills development facilitator (SDF). The SDF must upload an appointment letter to gain access to the LMIS.
Levy paying employers have to report on the type and costs of staff training they initiated during the past financial year. They also need to review the skills gaps in the workplace and develop a training plan. Employers who submit the complete documents on time receive a mandatory grant based on a percentage of their wage bill.
The process may sound straightforward, but it is not.
The reports have to refer to the complex Organising Framework of Occupations (OFO) codes for the job functions rather than the titles of every member of staff.
To make matters worse, this year, SDFs must use two versions of the OFO when compiling the reports:
- The Annual training report (ATR) for 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. Use OFO v19.
- The Workplace skills plan (WSP) for 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. Use OFO v21
- An optional application for a Discretionary grant (DG).
Sector skills plan
“The WSP is a most powerful tool for business expansion and sustainability. It helps you develop a skills matrix and development plan aligned with the company’s future goals, Naicker explained.
“We supplement the information with additional research to determine the priority occupations and hard-to-fill vacancies (jobs that take longer than 12 months to fill) in your industry. The data is analysed and included in the FP&MSeta’s annual Sector Skills Plan (SSP).
“It is the reference document for the government to track progress in the National Skills Development Strategy and draw up the national critical skills shortage list.
“The SSP is only as relevant and accurate as the information you give us. It is dynamic and influences decision-making that can have a lasting impact on your industry. For example, it is a key reference document for the Furniture Industry Masterplan (FIMP) and the Forestry Sector Masterplan (FSM)”.
