How The Wholesale Retail SETA Violates Fair Labour Practices. W&R SETA fails legislation and the public by straying from legislation and failing to monitor industry stakeholders or engaging when the public raises concerns. We draw attention to how the W&R SETA neglects their duty and fails to perform in accordance with the Constitution.
Open letter to the W&R SETA: The Wholesale Retail SETA Violates Human Rights
W&R SETA has defective leadership when it condones practices that exploit and victimise the youth and vulnerable.
Workers in the wholesale retail sectors have a right to fair labour practices. However, the Wholesale Retail SETA seems to think otherwise as they condone unfair labour practices amongst their funded stakeholders such as Truworths.
The Public Has a Right to Ask Why The Wholesale Retail SETA Condones Youth Human Rights Marginalisation
Dear Wholesale and Retail SETA
It’s been noted that in your sector:
- Employers and their contracted recruiters publish learnership recruitment adverts withholding stipend information
- this places applicants at an asymmetric disadvantage during negotiations as firms refuse to reveal what they have committed to.
- What is the basis for offering each learner a different stipend?
- Withholding stipend amounts is not pro-poor and a direct violation of Section 23.1 of our Constitution which states ‘Everyone is entitled to fair labour practice.’
- Firms in your sector have turned stipends into ‘bargaining chips.’
- W&R SETA does not impose adherence to skills development accreditation quality standards in the wholesale and retail sector.
- To be accredited, providers must submit recruitment policies and processes, yet sector adverts show a lack of quality compliance.
- W&R SETA is contravening SAQA policy and thereby their own ETQA by not ensuring learnership adverts conform to NQF standards, quality assurance, and promote access, inclusion, fairness and socio-economic development opportunity.
Learnership Adverts and Obscure Compensation: How The Wholesale Retail SETA Violates The Public
Withholding information is an unfair asymmetric advantage leaving vulnerable applicants poorer than what they were before they applied for a position they cannot afford to take.
People don’t only apply for the sake of money. However, applicants must make a judgement about which opportunities are worth pursuing. Why are applicants denied this right when they must carry the cost burden of attending an interview?
How The Wholesale Retail SETA Violates Our Youth
Learnerships were originally conceived as pro-poor economic development interventions that create access to further education and training and job exposure for the poor. Why is W&R SETA permitting these interventions to be used as cheap employment opportunities for firms? Is W&R SETA achieving success at the expense of our poor and the youth?
Most youth, in particular, will accept low offers to gain experience and to learn, does W&R SETA permit firms to exploit this via learnerhips? It sure does seem like they condone it.
People Suffer When W&R SETA Accreditation Standards are Low and Subjective
The W&R SETA requires that accredited providers submit recruitment policies. Why is there no standard ensuring the provision of the following information in their learnership adverts?:
- Name of qualification
- Entry criteria
- Name of accredited provider
- Accredited provider’s registration number
- Stipend amount
- Career paths the qualification and experience will prepare learners for
These demarcated standards would ensure better protection of the public and that firms operate and deliver within the confines of SAQA policy, the Constitution and labour legislation.
Job applicants must invest in their appearance, transport and have an available communication device (telephone / internet access). The process of pursuing and attending interviews comes at great personal cost. Air time, shampoo, shoes – believe it or not, when you’ve never been employed and have no parental support, these are luxury items.
How The Wholesale Retail SETA Violates Fair Recruitment
Submit A Review of the Truworths ‘Learnership’ Advert W&RSETA
Submitted for W&R SETA review is the following learnership recruitment advert promoted on LinkedIn. Truworths uses social media platforms to promote their ‘learnerships’ but fails to respond to questions interrogating their offers. Kindly respond yourself as the quality assurance body and explain why you are sharing and promoting this advert on Facebook.
Just how low does your incompetence stoop?
Kindly answer the following, W&R:
- Is Truworths an Accredited Training Provider, if not, what gives Truworths the right to place this ad?
- Tell us why this is an advert for a learnership and not a job?
- If it’s a learnership, why are there no qualification entry criteria and which NQF Level is the qualification on? Why do you not have this as a standard within the accreditation criteria?
- There is no qualification achievement mentioned – is this an acceptable W&R SETA standard? If so, how is the public to determine when the offer is legitimate or a scam?
- The remuneration description does not conform to ‘stipend’ norms – does the W&R SETA condone a firm that makes compensation this vague for new market entrants?:
Reward strategies are aimed at attracting, motivating and retaining employees and at promoting a sustainable high performance culture within the business. Remuneration practices are closely linked to the Group’s business philosophy, purpose, values and vision and to the achievement of Group, team and individual performance objectives.
Truworths is committed to transformation and meeting objectives of the Employment Equity Act. Meeting our employment equity goals and targets will be taken into account in our recruitment decisions.
Favourable consideration will be given to people living with disabilities.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has repeated warnings to the public to check training provider credentials, how is the public to check credentials when none are displayed?
Answer, W&R SETA! We want to know!
Advert Text:
| Job Title | Learnership Store Consultant |
| Location | Cape Town, ZA |
| Organization Name | SDA Truworths |
| Company Description | GET TO KNOW US Truworths aims to be recognized as an employer of choice in fashion retailing and continues to invest in its people to ensure sustainable performance and business continuity. The Group’s values define the way in which management interacts with employees and also guide human resource practices. These values are incorporated in everyday working life at Truworths, from recruitment to training and development, employee relations and recognition programmes. Through regular performance appraisals, management not only measures performance against goals but also monitors how employees are acting in accordance with these values. At Truworths, you’ll find a dynamic business environment where our staff is constantly challenged to reinvent the way we do business in order to keep us at the forefront of the South African fashion industry. Take a walk through our stores or offices and you’ll encounter an infectious love of fashion and a tangible will to succeed among the people who make up our business – both of which are key to keeping us at least one step ahead of the competition. OUR VISION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES: ‘I am totally committed to Truworths because I am always encouraged to offer innovative ideas which contribute to the ultimate purpose of Truworths. As a result, Truworths is generous in recognizing my role as an effective team member.’ In the words of our CEO, Michael Mark, “The theme is simple…it’s all about fashion. This straightforward concept is a powerful reminder about what Truworths is all about – fashion.” (Annual Financial Statement) |
| Brief Description | The successful candidate:
|
| Key Responsibilities | Assist customers
|
| Requirements | Excellent communication skills
|
| Remuneration | Reward strategies are aimed at attracting, motivating and retaining employees and at promoting a sustainable high-performance culture within the business. Remuneration practices are closely linked to the Group’s business philosophy, purpose, values and vision and to the achievement of Group, team and individual performance objectives. Truworths is committed to transformation and meeting the objectives of the Employment Equity Act. Meeting our employment equity goals and targets will be taken into account in our recruitment decisions. Favourable consideration will be given to people living with disabilities. |
| Professional Area | Store Operations |
| Specific Qualifications |
Bullying Firms Refuse to Respond Publicly: How The Wholesale Retail SETA Violates and Condones Crimes
Below is the post shared on LinkedIn to promote the advertised learnership. When Truworths advertised a similar position earlier this year, I questioned the lack of stipend information. They offered no apology for ignoring the questions for 6 days and when they eventually responded, it was to email a threat and forbid further questioning.
It appears that this is the standard Truworths way, questions regarding the legitimacy of their adverts are not allowed and can result in legal action.
W&R SETA, DHET and Truworths should understand that I will not be silenced or dumbed down. Do things correctly or we ARE on opposite sides of the fight against poverty and exploitation and I will continue drawing attention to questionable behaviors, practices and attitudes perpetuated by you.
Does the W&R SETA support the stance that firms do not have to be held accountable to the public and the skills development community when advertising and promoting learnerships?
And even if you do, the public has a right to ask questions and demand answers from each of you.
W&R SETA, DHET you are welcome to contact me but I’m tired of chasing after salaried asses. I’m not paid to raise these issues and teach you, respect my time and the fact that I’m furious at the lack of protection for the public and the trivialization and vilification of our legislation. Pasopa!
Let’s get it together W&R SETA!
Regards
Leonie Hall – pro-poor agitator
