Question NW3881 to the Minister of Social Development
23 December 2022 - NW3881
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
What are the relevant details of her plans (a) for the employment of social workers who have been trained by the State, but remains unemployed and (b) to have funds ring-fenced for the employment of social workers?
Reply:
What are the relevant details of her plans
a) For the employment of social workers who have been trained by the State, but remain unemployed.
- The Department has developed a draft sector strategy for the employment of social service professionals inclusive of social workers. This sector strategy addresses the employment of Social Service Professionals (SSPs) in Departments, Provinces, Agencies, Local Government, and the private sector.
The plan looks at various opportunities to employ SSPs, but not limited to;
- Employment by Provinces
- Employment by Sector Departments
- Internship program targeting unemployed graduates
- Short-term contracts based on the availability of funds (Presidential Employment Stimulus)
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- Employment through the Health & Welfare Sector, Education, and Training Agency
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b) To have funds ring-fenced for the employment of Social Workers?
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- The Department is currently reviewing the request for funding bid for the employment of SSPs, to focus only on Provincial Departments for Social Development.
- The funding bid will be submitted to National Treasury.
- The Department is continuously engaging the provinces and other Departments such as Education, SAPS, and Defence to prioritize and fill vacant SSPs posts.