Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, ngiyabonga lungu elihloniphekile. [Thank you, Chairperson; thank you, hon member.]
Yes, the regrading of the salaries of social workers and the implementation of the occupation specific dispensation, OSD, ensured competitive remuneration for social workers and managed to retain social workers within the profession.
Since its inception in 2007, the scholarship programme has managed to train and recruit a total number of 5 574 students and absorbed 3 237 into employment in the various provincial departments of social development.
The department is currently undertaking a study to evaluate the implementation of the recruitment and retention strategy to determine whether the interventions put in place have addressed the challenges of the shortage of social workers in the country. The study will be finalised by the end of the 2011-12 financial year.
The department has also embarked on the development of and training on programmes for families. This will ensure that newly qualified social workers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the breakdown of families in rural areas. The development of a White Paper for families, which aims to promote family life and strengthen families, will also improve service delivery in all communities, including rural areas.
Yes, there has been a review of salaries for social workers, only in the public sector, in 2004. This involved the regrading of social worker salaries and the implementation of the OSD, which took place in 2008 and 2009, through the implementation of the Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers, which has recently been reviewed. The department will implement programme funding instead of providing subsidies for salaries to nongovernmental organisations, NGOs. This will ensure that NGOs receive optimal funding for salaries of social workers.
The regrading of the salaries of social workers and the implementation of the OSD ensured a very competitive remuneration package for social workers and managed to retain social workers within the profession.
Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, nakuwe lungu elihloniphekile. [Thanks to you, Chairperson, and you, hon member.]