An expert training provider can help mines with the AET requirements for their SLPs. Many mines grapple with these so-called “softer” issues that impact the success of their operations. Companies are awarded mining rights based on the strength of their SLPs. To retain these rights, they need to prove that they are fulfilling their obligations. SLPs are renewed every five years over the life of mine if commitments are being honoured.
Ultimately, SLPs aim to promote employment; advance social and economic welfare; and contribute to the transformation of the mining industry. This is in addition to ensuring that mining companies help to develop the areas in which they operate.
SLPs are one of the ways that a long legacy of inequality is being addressed in the mining industry. According to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the country’s mineral resources belong to all citizens of the country. Refer to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 | South African Government (www.gov.za) for more reading on the MPRDA. By investing in developing their employees and effected communities, mining companies are sharing the country’s mineral wealth.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy [Department of Mineral Resources (dmr.gov.za)] manages mining rights on behalf of government.
AET is part of the human resources development programme of SLPs. It develops the skills of workers and members of communities who reside within the operational footprint and from where labour is sourced. Communities who are impacted by mining reside in areas within a 50km radius of operations. Labour sending areas are those from which the majority of mineworkers are or were sourced. Mines have an obligation to both as detailed in their SLPs.
SLPs commit to providing AET
Through SLPs, mining companies commit to providing workplace and community AET.
Workplace AET is geared at equipping employees with the English literacy and numeracy skills that they need to perform at their peak. Employees who possess these skills can also continue learning so that they are able to progress in their careers.
Mining previously relied heavily upon unskilled and semi-skilled labour. Under a previous dispensation, indigenous South Africans were educated only to a point where they could perform mundane and general work. They were, therefore, confined to low skilled and semi-skilled work that provided little scope for career growth and improved earnings. This policy provided a vast pool of cost-effective labour that was needed to industrialise the country. Mines played a central role in this strategy. Therefore, older mining employees are predominantly semi-literate and in need of AET. These numbers have been declining since mines started focusing on providing AET to their workforce. This is according to the Mineral Council South Africa [Home – Minerals Council South Africa]. The Department of Higher Education and Training [https://www.dhet.gov.za/] notes that most of the illiterate adults are of working age. There are about 3 million functionally illiterate South African adults.
Meanwhile, most of the younger new entrants to the industry are functionally literate or possess workplace literacy skills. They also have greater expectations for skills development opportunities that will lead to career advancement. Some mines are now only recruiting individuals who have completed their basic education and are, therefore, functionally literate. This is considering that literate employees are also able to work in a healthier and safer manner. There is a strong correlation between literacy skills and health and safety in workplaces. However, the real impact of adult literacy and numeracy training on occupational health and safety levels is still to be measured.
Community AET in SLPs
Community AET in SLPs is geared at equipping individuals who reside within mines’ operational footprints with the skills that they need to secure employment. These areas have high levels of unemployment and illiteracy. They are, hence, also heavily dependent on mining operations for employment. Mines’ AET community programmes, therefore, also play an important role in developing the literacy and numeracy skills of individuals recruited in the labour sending areas.
As the mining industry gradually automates and mechanises, the skills profiles of typical mine workers is changing. At the most basic level, workers will need to possess literacy and numeracy skills. Traditional semi-skilled and unskilled mining jobs are among those that are considered most at risk in the future. According to a report by Accenture, 1 in 10 jobs are at risk in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Refer to Accenture | Let There Be Change for more reading on the topic. In less developed countries that have higher levels of unemployment, the impact of automation and mechanisation will be greater. Accenture Consulting in Africa estimates that 35% of all jobs in the country are at risk of being lost due to automation and mechanisation by 2025. Refer to https://businesstech.co.za/news/technology/238193/the-jobs-in-south-africa-most-at-risk-of-total-digital-automation-and-the-skills-you-need-to-learn-to-remain-relevant/ for more reading on the topic.
Worryingly, SLPs are yet to have the intended impact on these areas. Despite the system being in force for many years now, most mining communities are still poor. This is because SLPs are still being drafted without input from communities. They, therefore, do not meet the real or immediate needs of communities. In other instances, the commitments made by mines in their SLPs are not being fulfilled. This also reflects poorly on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy which is not regulating the sector as is expected by the MPRDA.
AET in SLPs impart skills
Importantly, AET in SLPs imparts skills that are relevant to mining and those used in other sectors. This is a critical requirement of human resource development programmes of SLPs. It is a way of ensuring that employees are able to find employment in other sectors. This is to mitigate the impact of mine closures when operations have reached the end of their lives. Unscheduled closures can also occur despite mines’ about 30-year lifecycles, depending on the minerals or ore that they extract. Sudden and unplanned mine closures can be devastating. Mines that go into business rescue, for example, may have to abruptly downscale or completely close their operations. When Optimum Mine went into business rescue, for example, more than 400 workers were served retrenchment notices. It was the largest mine in Middelburg.
AET imparts fundamental skills. Most – if not all – jobs depend on a basic understanding of numeracy and literacy. Equipped with basic English literacy and numeracy skills, workers can perform their jobs to the best of their ability. They are, thus, the absolute basic proficiencies that individuals need to secure employment in a broad spectrum of industries in a modern economy. Importantly, they are also proficiencies that individuals need to continue learning to grow and develop their careers and in just about all other facets of life.
AET plan for your SLP
A reputable accredited training specialist will help you to ensure you are able to develop an AET plan for your SLP. These criteria are clearly outlined in the MPRDA.
The human resources development programme must include a skills development plan for your workforce. This will detail the number of workers in your employ and their skills levels. It also needs to indicate positions that have been difficult to fill over 12 months. The act also requires that the human resources development programme includes a career progression plan that enables employees to rise up the ranks.
Moreover, this aspect of SLPs must include a mentorship plan for employees. This is so that they receive the grooming and coaching that they need to progress in their careers.
Employment equity statistics of the mine are also important. A plan, therefore, needs to be in place to ensure that 10% of the workforce consists of women. Up to 40% of management positions must comprise previously disadvantaged citizens.
AET fundamental component of SLPs
AET is a fundamental component of SLPs. It, therefore, needs to be approached diligently by an accredited training provider.
SLPs are mandated by the Mining Charter [https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201809/41934gon1002.pdf]. As the transformation vehicle for the mining sector, it aims to “facilitate sustainable transformation, growth and development of the mining industry”.
Training and skills development encourage transformation by bridging the widening poverty gap. This is according to research undertaken by the United Nations [United Nations | Peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet]. Its studies have shown that, for each year of schooling, individuals can increase their lifetime earning by about 10%. Meanwhile, education has also been directly linked to a country’s ability to increase its gross-domestic product growth. This is in addition to the role that it plays in helping companies to address skills shortages that impact their performance. In this way, they can contribute to the growth and development of the economy and job creation.
Skills training and development is also a powerful tool to increase inclusivity in the job market. Many South Africans were previously denied access to opportunities. AET equips these individuals and those stuck in the cycle of intergenerational illiteracy with essential skills. In this way, it sets them on a path of continued learning so that they can access opportunities.
AET programme for SLPs
An AET programme for your SLPs needs to include a workplace skills plan and annual training report. A workplace skills plan articulates training plans for the coming year. Meanwhile, annual training reports provide an overview of all training that was conducted during the previous year.
Companies are also required to pay skills development levies to the South African Revenue Services [https://www.sars.gov.za/] on a monthly basis. This is to comply with the needs of the Skills Development Act [https://static.pmg.org.za/docs/2000/appendices/000229SDASummary.htm#:~:text=The%20Skills%20Development%20Act%20aims,of%20work%20and%20labour%20mobility]. SARS then distributes these funds to the respective Sector Education Training Authorities [https://nationalgovernment.co.za/units/type/8/seta]. The Mining Qualifications Authority is the SETA for mining. Refer to https://nationalgovernment.co.za/units/view/120/mining-qualifications-authority-mqa. The MQA, in turn, makes funds available to its levy paying companies.
Companies are able to claim back the value of 20% of their skills development levies as mandatory grants. They are also able to claim additional funding for training through discretionary grant programmes.
Quality AET for your SLPs
Triple E Training is a provider of quality AET for your SLPs.
We have worked closely with the mining sector for more than 30 years to develop relevant adult literacy and numeracy programmes. These are having a large positive impact on both mining communities and the industry’s workforce.
Learn how we are also able to help you to meet the human resource development commitments of your SLPs. www.eee.co.za
