LEVY PAYERS INDUCTED ON PRODUCT RELATED TRAINING

Continuous improvement in service delivery is pivotal to every organisation or company offering products and services. The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) is striving to consistently improve its products and services by re-engineering some of the business processes. HRDC has introduced the reimbursement for product related training which is customer focused and is aimed at enhancing the quality of HRDC’s service delivery. The reimbursement for product related training will ensure increased uptake of skills development interventions by levy payers and thus increased utilisation of the training levy.

On the 8^th October 2019, the Department of Funding in collaboration with the Workplace Learning Unit held a Levy Payers Breakfast Seminar at TraveLodge in Gaborone to sensitise Levy Payers on product related training and provide information about the guidelines and application for product related training. The two departments also provided clarification on the reimbursement process.The Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) is a reimbursement fund that motivates companies to train their employees. It is operated through a levy grant system where companies pay a levy into the HRD Fund and are reimbursed costs that they incurred for training their employees.

Some companies that have been contributing towards the HRD Fund have through previous stakeholder engagements with HRDC expressed their dissatisfaction with the reimbursement model used by HRDC due to the fact that they are obliged to contribute to the Training Levy but are not reimbursed for product related training even though it is deemed as a necessity as it enhances product development and delivery. Currently, the HRDF regulations do not have a provision for ‘Product Related Training’ which is most appropriate for businesses that offer certain services under specific industries especially in the manufacturing sector.

In industries where there are perpetual technological advancements such as the Information, Communications and Technology Sector (ICT), workforce (staff) has to be regularly trained on new technological advancements that affect their operations. Product Related Trainings are not accredited as per the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) regulations due to the fact that the trainings are meant for upgrading employees on new technological changes that come with newly acquired equipment where the product manufacturer’s focus is not on training but on production.

These product related trainings are necessitated by the fact that workplaces have to adapt to the labour market dynamics of the product cycle and technological changes associated with the end product. It is against this backdrop that HRDC saw it fit to engage Levy Payers and bring them to speed with the amendments to the HRD Fund regulations.

In her welcome remarks, Dr Ellah Matshediso, Director in the Department of Human Resource Development Planning (HRDP) – Supply indicated that HRDC advocates for skills development at all levels across all sectors of the economy. She further said that when Levy Payers train their employees, they are in a way contributing towards a skilled workforce.

Presenting on the requirements for Product Related Training (PRT), Ms Doreen Kokorwe, Manager - Workplace Learning elaborated that they have introduced a generic tool for all trainings that require application for pre-approval. Pivotal to the requirements is that Workplaces will be expected to submit a pre - approval application form prior to embarking on any training. She further explained that, “Companies who require PRT are obliged to provide proof of purchase of the new equipment or software that has been acquired thereby necessitating the training of staff.’’ She further highlighted that the application form is available from the HRDC website”.

While sharing the merits of this continuous improvement initiative, Ms Kokorwe further said “It is through the continuous assessment and enhancement of all HRDC’s products, processes, procedures that we will ensure that the attitudes of Levy Payers are positively changed and they start enjoying the benefits of their contribution towards the Training Levy. It should be noted that the enhancement of products or service has the potential to make them more user friendly and result in greater levels of quality and customer service”

Presenting on the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF), the HRDC’s Fund Assessor, Ms Batsalelwang Tladi, advised that some of the documents required to successfully process a reimbursement claim include; providing invoices, receipts accompanied by proof of payment, certified copies of attendance register signed by each trainee for each day of training, certified copies of trainee certificates/transcripts or progress reports as well as any other supporting documents related to costs being claimed for. Nevertheless, Ms Tladi intimated, ‘‘The approval of claims does not mean that they will be fully paid as that will depend on the availability of funds in a specific Levy Payer’s s account.’’   

In conclusion a volunteer from the business community, appreciated the new developments in the processing of claims for Product Related Training. He further appreciated the forum for the insightful discussions that will ultimately improve their business operations. He further applauded HRDC for having heeded to their challenges and responded therein with a customer-focused intervention which recognises customer needs. He further stated that this progressive initiative will go a long way in enhancing HRDC’s service delivery therefore calling for Levy Payers to play an active role in skills development resulting in an increased uptake of the HRD Fund.