HRDC’S BUSINESS CONTINUITY INTERVENTIONS DURING THE GREATER GABORONE COVID -19 LEVEL THREE (3) ZONE LOCKDOWN

HRDC’S BUSINESS CONTINUITY INTERVENTIONS DURING THE GREATER GABORONE COVID -19 LEVEL THREE (3) ZONE LOCKDOWN

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) wishes to inform its valued Stakeholder, Customers, Clients and the general public that its office will be closed for business from the 31^st July, 2020 until further notice. This decision was made in compliance with the announcement by the Presidential Task Force Team for COVID-19, that Greater Gaborone COVID-19 Zone must undergo lockdown or extreme social distancing with effect from the 30^th July, 2020 midnight.   

Prior to the Presidential Task Force Team for COVID – 19 Announcement, HRDC had an array of business activities planned. However, in order to comply, HRDC wishes to inform valued Stakeholders, Customers, Clients and the general public of the following business continuity interventions to ensure business is not disrupted.

1. HRDC TENDERS

All HRDC running tenders are suspended. Site visits and closing dates of all running tenders will be revised and communicated to the public after the Greater Gaborone COVID-19 Zone lockdown.

2. SUBMISSION OF WORK SKILLS TRAINING PLANS

2.1 Approved Trainings

Workplaces whose trainings were approved prior to the lockdown should consider other options such as virtual platforms where possible as a way of adhering to social distancing measures.

2.2 Online Submission of Plans

Work Skills Training Plans and Annual Training Reports may be submitted online through the emails listed below.

2.3 Pre – Approval Requests

HRDC will be receiving the Pre - Approval Requests during the entire lockdown period through email.

2.4 Changes in Training Schedules

 Workplaces are advised to liaise with HRDC’s Workplace Learning Unit (WPL) and where there are changes in their training schedules.

2.5 Work Place Learning Contacts

HRDC’s Stakeholders, Customers and Clients are encouraged to reach the Workplace Learning (WPL) Officers using the contact details listed below. Employers eligible to claim from the HRDF are required to submit Work Skills Training Plans (WSTP) for the Financial Year 2020/21.

3.  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FUND (HRDF)

3.1 Training

1. Levy Payers are now permitted to train and claim for reimbursement from the Human Resource Development Fund (HRD Fund) for trainings in respect of both 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial year
2. Employers are advised to plan and conduct training in consideration of the relevant precautionary measures intended to curb the spread of COVID-19 and in compliance with the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) regulatory requirements.

3. Because of the challenges experienced regarding completeness of claims, Reimbursement claims will be submitted after lockdown. Only enquiries for clarity in relation to that may be emailed to hrdfclaims@hrdc.org.bw.

4. REFUNDING OF THE SOUTHERN BOTSWANA HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS (BHRDS) FAIR 2020 EXHIBITORS

In line with recommendations from the COVID-19 Task Force requiring all public events to be suspended, the Southern Botswana Human Resource Development Skills Fair and Career Clinics 2020 that was billed to take place from the 23^rd – 27^th March 2020 has since been cancelled. In the interest of public safety, the event will not be held this year in Gaborone. Therefore, all the exhibitors who had paid their exhibition fees will be refunded accordingly for the Southern BHRDS Fair. Exhibitors are therefore advised to contact the department through emails listed below by sending their proof of payment and banking details.