Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (Act No. 53 of 2003)

Industry Charters

Agri-BEE Charter

5. Elements of Empowerment

5.4. Skills Development
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Commercial viability in agriculture demands sustained productivity, high levels of entrepreneurship, long term commitment, resources and skills. The transformation demands of the Sector and rapid changes in the global environment require that more resources should be mobilised for expanding the exlstinq human capital pool through investing in people, employment equity, skills development and institutional transformation.

 

Black Designated Groups are targeted under the skills development element. In addition, a focus on the development of core skills as identified by the enterprise, scarce and critical skills as identified by relevant Sector Education and Training Authority ('SETA'), must be ensured. In this respect, skills development spend on proposed learning interventions which address these skills shortages must account for 85% of the value of the actual contribution. Enterprises should engage with the relevant Sector Education and Training Authority ('SETA') for information on such learning interventions.

 

Agri-Industry undertakes to:-

 

5.4.1.Identify gaps in workers' training needs so as to co-operate with and complement teaching and educational institutions and to allow their workers to receive skills and in-service training;

 

5.4.2.Dedicate resources to provide for experiential training, internships, in-service training and training infrastructure for prospective agribusiness entrepreneurs, farm managers and farm labourers;

 

5.4.3.Ensure maximum use of resources provided by the Skills Levy of the relevant SETAs ;

 

5.4.4.Institute a sector-wide young professional employment and mentoring programme, which targets Black unemployed and underemployed graduates in all disciplines. Mentorship programmes shall be accredited by the relevant SETA or other agreed authority; and

 

5.4.5.Implement quantifiable and measurable in-house mentoring programmes as part of the skills development of black employees.

 

The relevant SETAs undertake to:-

 

5.4.6.Establish SETA-funded training programmes for farm and Enterprise workers in appropriate technical and management skills;

 

5.4.7.Fast-track the registration of learners on NQF-aligned learning programmes;

 

5.4.8.Fast-track the implementation of appropriate learnership, internship, apprenticeship, in-service and mentorship programmes required by the Sector;

 

5.4.9.Fast-track the accreditation of appropriate sectoral service providers;

 

5.4.10.Encourage, support and monitor such programmes in the private sector;

 

5.4.11.Ensure the transformation of agricultural training institutions to accelerate preferential recruitment and admission of black trainees;

 

5.4.12.Encourage quantifiable and measurable in-house mentoring programmes as part of the skills development of black employees;

 

5.4.13.Encourage the implementation of sector-wide young professional employment and mentoring programmes, which target Black unemployed and underemployed graduates in all disciplines. Mentorship programmes shall be accredited by the relevant SETA or other agreed authority; and

 

5.4.14.Provide support to QSE's and EME's in the implementation of relevant skills development initiatives, including Enterprises which are exempted from the payment of the skills development levy.

 

Government undertakes to:-

 

5.4.15.Provide primary education and training. This includes adult literacy and numeracy training. The State, in conjunction with the governing bodies of educational institutions and similar structures, must ensure that quality training is offered by all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions;

 

5.4.16.Encourage agricultural and agro-processing training at schools and agricultural colleges. A focused, formal agricultural and agro-processing training system which adequately equips future agriculturalists and agro-processors should be developed;

 

5.4.17.Promote agriculture and agro-processing as a competitive career option;

 

5.4.18.Undertake a review of the effective demand for human resources in the agricultural Sector;

 

5.4.19.Lead and co-ordinate a targeted programme in collaboration with education authorities, farmers' organisations, labour and the agricultural private sector to review existing education and training curricula in order to enhance technical, entrepreneurial, and management skills for Black entrants into the Sector;

 

5.4.20.Ensure the inclusion of a substantial number of Black persons from the Sector as the nucleus of strategic partners in Government overseas trade missions, technical assistance, study visits and training opportunities;

 

5.4.21.Promote functional literacy and numeracy through ABET programmes;

 

5.4.22.Encourage quantifiable and measurable in-house mentoring programmes as part of the skills development of black employees; and

 

5.4.23.Encourage the implementation of a sector-wide young professional employment and mentoring programmes, which target Black unemployed and underemployed graduates in all disciplines. Mentorship programmes shall be accredited by the relevant SETA or other agreed authority.