Government to abolish work experience for entry level posts
From 1 April 2019, work experience will no longer be a requirement for recruitment for entry-level jobs in the public sector, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has announced.
The DPSA said in a statement on Monday, is part of the government’s efforts to address the country’s high youth unemployment rate.
The department is currently in the process of amending regulations in this regard that will take effect at the commencement of the 2019/20 financial year.
DPSA Minister Ayanda Dlodlo has taken the initiative to review the current legislative framework in order to facilitate the implementation of this new dispensation.
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This initiative will enhance the government’s human resource development capacity that will see the high levels of unemployment, especially among the youth, alleviated.
The process will also see the removal of unnecessary barriers to entry into the public service and provision of a platform for new graduates to acquire the required experience in their lifelong career paths. Additionally, the initiative will see new and innovative blood attracted into the public service.
In the statement, Dlodlo said the changes will not do away with the inherent requirements of professional fields.
“This exercise will be structured in such a way that it does not compromise the professional and technical requirements for various fields. All we want to do is streamline career paths and align skills, which will make the public service fit for purpose.”
DPSA spokesperson Mava Scott said the focus of recruitment will now be on minimum academic qualifications obtained from appropriately registered training institutions in terms of the National Qualifications Framework Act and the pre-employment verification, as specified in the Public Service Regulations of 2016.
Dlodlo has instructed the department to issue a circular to the public service mandating Heads of Departments in national and provincial spheres of government to ensure a state of readiness towards a phased implementation by 1 April 2019.
