Use this learnership complaint letter template to express how you feel about a bad experience. This learnership complaint template and expert tips will help you carefully raise concerns about your learnership. Learn how to effectively communicate concerns and advocate for yourself.
Write a Motivational Learnership Complaint Letter
Motivate your learnership employer or training provider to do better
Are you experiencing issues with your employer or training provider? It can be challenging to know how to approach the situation when you’re a learner.
1. Diplomatic Learnership Complaint Letter: Don’t burn your bridges
A learnership can be a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and skills in your chosen field. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned and you may find yourself with concerns about your learnership.
2. Professional Learnership Complaint Letter: Communicate Calmly
Whether it’s a mistake in the agreement or a dispute with your employer, it’s important to address issues calmly and in a professional manner. In this post, we provide a learnership complaint template and tips on how to raise concerns and advocate for yourself. Use these tools to navigate this challenging situation and find a resolution that works for you.
3. Combine a Learnership Complaint with a Compliment
When raising a complaint with an employer, it can be helpful to begin by offering a compliment. Acknowledge something positive before introducing the complaint. This can help to set a more constructive and positive tone for the conversation. It could also make the employer more receptive to hearing your concerns.
Here’s an example of how to compliment an employer before delicately introducing a complaint
Dear [Employer],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the great work that you and your team have done in providing us with a comprehensive and valuable learnership program. The program has provided me with valuable skills and knowledge that will benefit me greatly in my future career.
However, I do have a concern that I would like to bring to your attention. Describe the issue [During the last few weeks, I have noticed that there has been a lack of communication and organization regarding our training schedule. This has resulted in some confusion and frustration among the learners, including myself.]
I understand that organizing a learnership program can be a complex and challenging task. I appreciate the effort that you and your team have put in so far. However, I wanted to bring this issue to your attention in the hopes that we can work together to find a solution that will benefit all of us.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Best regards, [Your Name]
A Constructive Learnership Complaint Letter
In the example above, we begin by acknowledging the positive aspects of the program and express appreciation for the employer’s efforts.
We raised the concern in a respectful and constructive way. We acknowledged the challenges of organizing a learnership program and expressed a willingness to work together to find a solution. This approach can help to build trust and encourage the employer to take the complaint seriously.
Write a more complicated Learnership Complaint Letter
Adapt this learnership complaint letter template to suit your specific issues.
- Please keep the tone respectful or the situation can become too hostile to resolve.
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, Province, Postal Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]
[Training Provider or Employer Name] [Address] [City, Province, Postal Code]
Dear [Training Provider or Employer Name],
It is with regret that I am writing to express deep concerns and frustrations regarding the learnership with your organization. I believe that addressing these issues will improve the quality of the program. This will provide a better learning experience for all participants.
First and foremost, I feel that the training time provided is insufficient to fully cover the required content. The pace of the program is too fast. It does not allow for adequate time to fully understand and absorb the material. This has resulted in many of us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. This negatively impacts our ability to learn and perform well.
Additionally, there has been a lack of feedback and support from trainers and assessors. This has left us feeling uncertain about our progress and performance. We have received little to no guidance on areas where we need improvement. A a result, it is difficult for us to address our weaknesses and grow as learners.
Furthermore, the long hours, including Sundays and public holidays, are taking a toll on our physical and mental health. We understand the importance of completing the program in a timely manner. However, we also need to be able to balance our work and personal lives.
Another issue that concerns me is the lack of maternity or paternity leave. Many of us are in the stage of our lives where we are starting families. We believe it is unfair to expect us to choose between our careers and our families.
Finally, the unfair dismissal of learners without proper cause or explanation has caused learners a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty. We need to know that our efforts and commitment to the program will be rewarded and that we will be treated fairly and respectfully.
I urge you to take these concerns seriously and take action to improve the program for all participants. We want to succeed and thrive in our chosen career paths. We believe that with your support, we can achieve our goals.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
End
Learnership Complaint Letter: Tips for Addressing Issues
Here are some tips to help you effectively raise your concerns:
- Understand your rights: Before making a complaint, it’s important to understand your rights as a learner. Research the labour laws or consult with an expert in the field to learn what you’re entitled to as a learner.
- Document everything: Keep a record of any issues you’re experiencing, including dates, times, and details of incidents. This information will be helpful if you need to make a formal complaint or escalate the matter.
- Communicate clearly: When raising your concerns, be clear and concise about what the issues are and how they are affecting you. Use specific examples to illustrate your points.
- Use the right channels: Follow the appropriate channels for raising concerns. If your training provider has a complaints process, follow it. If not, approach your employer or speak to an independent authority, such as a regulatory body or union representative.
- Remain professional: When making a complaint, it’s important to remain professional and avoid getting emotional or confrontational. Stick to the facts and remain focused on finding a resolution.
- Seek support: If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure of how to proceed, seek support from a trusted colleague, friend, or family member. You may also consider speaking with a professional counsellor or legal advisor.
- Follow up: After you’ve sent your complaint, follow up to ensure that it was received and is being addressed. If you don’t receive a response, consider escalating the matter to the SETA.
Remember, raising concerns is a natural part of any learning experience. By following these tips, you can ensure that your concerns are heard and addressed in a timely and professional manner.
Addressing Learnership Complaints: Grievance Policy and Procedures
Your Learnership Complaint Letter Should Fit Into a Procedure
Learnership complaints are typically dealt with through a formal process such as a grievance policy.
Here’s a general overview of how the grievance process usually works:
- Initial complaint: The learner should raise their complaint or grievance with their immediate supervisor or employer. They should explain their concerns and the specific issue they have.
- Formal complaint: If the initial complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can submit a formal written complaint to your employer or training orgaisation. This complaint should include all the relevant details of the grievance.
- Investigation: They must then investigate the complaint to determine the validity of the grievance.
- Resolution: Once the investigation is complete, they will provide a decision or recommendation on how to resolve the grievance.
- Appeal: If the learner is unsatisfied with the decision, they may have the right to appeal to a higher authority, such as the SETA, CCMA or DHET.
Learners can address issues with their immediate supervisor or employer in the first instance. If the matter cannot be resolved at this level, then you can escalate the issue to a higher authority, such as the relevant Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) or the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Learnership Complaint Letter Made No Difference: take your complaint to the CCMA
Learnership complaints can be taken to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) under certain circumstances. The CCMA is an independent statutory body established in South Africa to promote social justice and protect the rights of employees and employers.
Learners can take their learnership complaints to the CCMA if:
1. The complaint relates to unfair dismissal
If you have been unfairly dismissed from your learnership program, you can approach the CCMA for assistance.
2. The complaint relates to unfair labour practice
If learners believe they have been subjected to an unfair labour practice, such as being unfairly treated or harassed during their learnership, they can approach the CCMA for assistance.
3. The complaint relates to discrimination
If learners believe that they have experienced discrimination, such as being treated unfairly based on their race, gender, or disability. The CCMA is available to help address such issues and ensure that learners’ rights are protected. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, don’t hesitate to approach the CCMA for guidance and support in resolving the matter.
4. The complaint relates to non-payment of stipends or allowances
If a learner’s employer or training provider fails to pay the stipend or allowance they are entitled to, they can approach the CCMA for assistance.
Before approaching the CCMA, first try to resolve the issue with your employer or training provider. Refer to the grievance procedure. If this process is not successful, then the CCMA can be approached for assistance.
Useful Contacts and Links Related to Learnerships:
Here are some useful contacts and links to use if you have a complaint about your learnership program:
- Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET): The DHET is responsible for the development of education and training policies in South Africa. Learners can contact the DHET through their website, email, or telephone to report any issues or complaints about their learnership program: https://www.dhet.gov.za/
- Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs): SETAs are responsible for developing and implementing sector-specific training programs in South Africa. Learners can contact the SETA which is responsible for their industry or sector to report any issues or complaints about their learnership program.
- Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA): The CCMA is an independent statutory body that helps to resolve disputes between employers and employees. If your learnership complaint cannot be resolved through your employer or training provider’s grievance procedure, you have the option to approach the CCMA. The CCMA can assist you in resolving the issue and ensure that your rights are protected. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you find yourself in such a situation: https://www.ccma.org.za/
- Department of Labour (DoL): The DoL is responsible for enforcing labour laws and protecting the rights of workers in South Africa. Learners can contact the DoL to report any issues or complaints about their learnership program: https://www.labour.gov.za/
Please make sure to gather all the necessary information about your learnership program before contacting them. It’s important to have the correct name of your employer or training provider, along with the program’s duration and the nature of your complaint. Additionally, be ready to follow any procedures or guidelines provided by the relevant body to ensure that your complaint is properly addressed. These organisations are there to assist you, so please don’t hesitate to provide them with all the relevant details.
Learnership Complaint Letter: Learner Support
If learners in a learnership program have concerns or problems, there are various contacts they can reach out to for support and guidance. Here is a list of some of the relevant contacts:
- Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET): The DHET is responsible for overseeing education and training in South Africa. They can be contacted for issues related to policy and regulations, as well as for general inquiries. Contact them at info@dhet.gov.za or call 0800 872 222.
- Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA): The CCMA is an independent body that provides dispute resolution services for workers and employers in South Africa. They can be contacted for issues related to unfair treatment, discrimination, or dismissal. Contact them at info@ccma.org.za or call 0861 16 16 16.
- Relevant Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA): Each SETA is responsible for promoting and regulating training and education in a specific industry sector. Learners can contact their relevant SETA for issues related to accreditation, certification, and training programs. Contact details for each SETA.
- Legal Aid South Africa: Legal Aid South Africa provides legal assistance and advice to people who cannot afford a private attorney. Learners can contact them for issues related to legal disputes, discrimination, or unfair treatment. Contact them at info@legal-aid.co.za or call 0800 110 110.
It’s important to remember that each contact has a specific mandate. They are not able to assist with all issues. It’s always best to research and understand each contact’s area of expertise before reaching out.
Is it too late to complain? If you’re at the resignation point, then use our letter templates to politely exit from the learnership.
