Draft IEP Report and the IRP Assumptions and the Base Case Consultation Workshops – Timeframes
According to the DOE website, stakeholders are invited to comment on the Draft IEP Report and the IRP Assumptions and the Base Case through the consultation workshops and or in writing to the Department. Comments received will be considered in preparing a draft final IRP Update which will be submitted to Cabinet for approval. Closing date for submitting written comments is 15 February 2017.
Interested parties interested in making presentation at the workshop must register by sending an email with the presentation to IRP.Queries@energy.gov.za not later than 2 days before the consultation workshop.
Consultation workshops will take place as indicated below with venues to follow once confirmed:
- Gauteng: Johannesburg – 07 December 2016
- Kwa-Zulu Natal: Durban – 09 December 2016
- Western Cape: Cape Town – 13 December 2016
- Eastern Cape: Port Elizabeth – 14 December 2016
- Northern Cape – January 2017 (Exact date to be confirmed)
- North West - January 2017 (Exact date to be confirmed)
- Limpopo - January 2017 (Exact date to be confirmed)
- Mpumalanga - January 2017 (Exact date to be confirmed)
- NEDLAC - February 2017
For any queries regarding the IRP, contact the Department at IRP.Queries@energy.gov.za
Members are encouraged to participate in the consultation workshops. BUSA will prepare a written response with member inputs before 15 February 2017.
Draft National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill, 2016 - request for public comment
Dear Member
The Draft National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill, 2016, was published in Government Gazette no 40430 of 18 November 2016 for public comment within 30 calendar days of publication.
The aim of the draft Bill is “To amend the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 so as to provide for the substitution of the Long Title; to provide for the insertion of new definitions; to provide for the accreditation of private education institutions or private providers to offer qualifications or part-qualifications or any component thereof as contemplated in the principal Act; to provide for a separate register for professional designations; to provide for the formulation of evaluation criteria of foreign qualifications; to provide for the establishment of a register of fraudulent qualifications; to provide for the adherence of education institutions, employers and courts of law to the legal obligations to report fraudulent qualifications; to provide for the establishment by SAQA of a register of misrepresented qualifications; to provide for employers to be obliged to refer qualifications of employees to SAQA for validation and verification; to provide for transitional arrangements and for matters connected therewith.”
Comments can be sent to:
The Director-General
Department of Higher Education and Training Attention:
Adv. E Boshoff Private Bag X174 Pretoria 0001
Email: Boshoff.E@dhet.gov.za
Fax: 012 324 8230
Update on Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act
Kindly be advised that the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill was passed in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 22 November 2016. The Bill was discussed at Nedlac during 2013.
In summary, the Bill contains the following aspects:
- Increases UIF benefits from 238 to 365 days;
- Increases maternity leave benefits to 66% , which will no longer be deducted from the mother’s unemployment insurance benefit;
- Covers workers who lost working hours due to reduced time at their work places;
- Includes public servants under the UIF, who will thus be covered in the event of dismissal , and includes women who had miscarriages during the third trimester or a still- born birth;
- Allows the family and/ or nominated beneficiary of a deceased claimant to receive their benefits;
- Prohibits the charging of fees by any party (e.g. agency) to a UIF claimant for helping them submit their claims.
The process to pass this legislation is long overdue. SEIFSA is pleased with the adjustments to the structure of the UIF benefits, such as maternity leave improvements, longer claim periods for the unemployed, and fewer restrictions for beneficiaries to access unemployment insurance.
Kindly find the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill attached for your information.