Recruitment and selection of unemployed people for
learnerships and other training programmes
Government has introduced training programmes to assist the country’s citizens to
become more employable. These are for example learnerships, apprenticeships,
internships and short learning programmes. The Government is encouraging the
implementation of these training programmes through financial grants and tax incentives
for employers. To further assist employers to take on unemployed learners, the
Department of Labour is providing a range of recruitment and selection services,
including a psychometric assessment service. These services are described in this
brochure.
What is the Department of Labour’s recruitment and selection service?
Each Labour Centre of the Department has a database of work-seekers from which
people can be selected for recruitment into learnerships, apprenticeships, internships and
other short training programmes, as well as vacancies. Employers willing to implement a
training programme, as well as training providers and SETAs, can contact a Labour
Centre to assist with recruitment and selection of unemployed learners. Employers can
also contact the Department of Labour to assist them with recruitment for vacancies..
In certain instances a psychometric assessment service will be delivered on request of the
stakeholder. The Department of Labour provides a psychometric assessment service for
learnerships, apprenticeships, in some cases for internships and for strategic short –term
training projects, provided the candidates are unemployed.
All the above services are free of charge.
What are the benefits of the recruitment and selection service?
Experience of the learnership programme suggest that when these training opportunities
are known, large numbers of people will apply for them. The Labour Centres can help to
review applications and to assist in the selection of those people most likely to benefit
from, and succeed in, a learnership. Recruitment and selection procedures, and especially
psychometric assessment, can help to increase the number of people who complete a
learnership successfully. Drop – out rates from training programmers are also reduced.
Who can apply for this service?
An employer, training provider or SETA, looking to recruit learners for learnerships,
apprenticeships, internships, short training programmers and/or vacancies, can make use
of this service.
How much will it cost?
This service is free of charge. The Department of Labour might request employers,
training providers or SETAs to assist in arranging venues for briefing sessions and
assessments.
How does the recruitment and selection work?
Recruitment, assessment and selection will be a joint effort by employers, SETAs,
training providers and the Department of Labour.
The process is as follows:
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An employer, training provider or SETA approaches the Labour Centre for
assistance with the recruitment and selection of a number of learners for agreed
and specified learnerships, apprenticeships, internships and/or strategic short-term
projects.
Recruitment and selection criteria (such as the minimum education required,
experience and others) for the training programme(s) will be determined by the
employer in consultation with the relevant SETA, the Department of Labour and
the training provider.
The Department of Labour will also request the SETA, employer or training
provider to indicate the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level of the
training programme, together with critical job competencies for the training
programme.
The Department of Labour will search the database for registered work-seekers
meeting the minimum selection criteria.
For every training programme opportunity the Department of Labour will invite
five unemployed people, who meet the minimum selection criteria and are
interested in the specific training programme, to a briefing session. The
employer, the training provider and the SETA may also attend the briefing
session. Potential learners will be informed about the learning programme(s) on
offer, the nature of work, the duration of the training programme and other
relevant arrangements.
After the briefing session potential learners will have to make a decision if they
want to continue with the selection process for one of the training programmes on
offer.
For every training programme opportunity applicants will then be invited to
attend a psychometric assessment by the Department of Labour. The results of
the assessment are confidential. A short list of applicants will be referred to the
requesting stakeholder.
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Results of the assessment will be captured in a list, ranking unemployed
according to their potential. Details of the results will then be explained to the
employer.
The employer makes the final decision on the unemployed person(s) to be
selected for the training programme.
How long does it take?
Depending on the number of learners and the NQF level of the training programme,
employers need to contact the Department of Labour about 6 weeks ahead of the actual
starting date of training to allow sufficient time for preparation, assessment and feedback
on results. If more than 1000 learners are to be selected in any one province or in more
than one province at the same time, the recruitment period might stretch to 8 weeks.
How do I apply for the selection and recruitment service of the Department of
Labour?
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Contact the Career Counsellor at your nearest labour centre in writing for
assistance providing the following details:
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Name, contact person, address of employer/organization requesting
assistance
Type of training programme(s)
NQF level of training programme(s)
Number of opportunities per training programme(s)
Planned start date of the training programme(s)
Selection criteria and job competencies of training programme (s)
The Department of Labour will confirm within 14 days if the assistance can be provided
and will set up a meeting to plan the specific recruitment and selection processes.
How to obtain more information?
For further general information on the Department of Labour recruitment and selection
process, please contact a labour centre or contact one of the Department’s Provincial
Office.
Provincial Offices of the Department of Labour
Labour Centres of the Department of Labour
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