Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report submission

In line with the Skills Development Act, all registered employers with an annual payroll exceeding R500 000 must pay Skills Development Levies (SDL) and subsequently submit a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and an Annual Training Report (ATR).

Employers are required to submit annually to the relevant Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) before the deadline of 30 April each year. The Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) outlines the current required skills in a company.

The Annual Training Report (ATR) documents the progress made in implementing the previous year’s WSP.

Why is it important to submit the WSP and ATR?

Compliance with submission requires employers to effectively plan for how they intend to fill their various skills gaps. This also contributes to meeting the statutory requirements necessary to obtain B-BBEE points for the priority element of skills development. In terms of the B-BBEE Codes and Scorecard, Skills Development is identified as a “priority element” and 40% of the targets set out in the Skills Development Element must be achieved to score points. Additionally, WSP & ATR submissions provide Members with the opportunity to recover up to 69.5% of their SDL spend back from their respective SETAs through Mandatory and Discretionary Grants. The grant funding is allocated as follows:

• Mandatory Grant – 20%
• Discretional Grant – 49.5%

The link between B-BBEE and WSP & ATR submissions

One of the most critical elements of B-BBEE is Skills Development, as it addresses the skills shortage in the country. In the revised B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, it has been identified as a priority element and non-compliance with sub-minimum targets will result in a measured entity dropping one level on the scorecard.

Your B-BBEE status level is determined by the number of points your business receives across the five B-BBEE elements. The higher your status level, the more procurement recognition your company will receive.

It is important to note that a measured entity will not score any points on a scorecard if it has not submitted a Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report. This makes compliance with the Skills Development Act even more critical.

If you are having challenges with any aspect of Skills Development or simply do not have time to complete the submission, Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal Recruitment Agency can provide adequate support and ensure that you remain compliant.

How the Recruitment Agency can help you!

1. Prepare for submission

• The Recruitment Agency has a registered and certified Skills Development Facilitator and will ensure that clients are registered with the correct SETA with regards to sector and services.

2. Submit and Report

• Submission of the WSP and ATR to the relevant SETA.
• Report as per BEE requirements to ensure Skills Development points are recognised.
• Assist in the application for SDL refunds i.e. Mandatory and Discretionary grants.

For a quotation, please contact Anisha Naidoo on 031 831 3201 or recruitment@masterbuilders.co.za

Anisha Naidoo

HR Manager

Reference

insights.transcend.co.za. (n.d.). WORKPLACE SKILLS PLANS (WSP/ATR) SUBMISSIONS. [online] Available at: https://insights.transcend.co.za/workplace-skills-plans-wsp/atr-submissions.