| National Welfare Forum October 2010 Resolutions |
|
|
 SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS NWF POLICY POSITIONS - OCTOBER 2010 1. Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers The Joint Strategic Committee (JSC) has compiled a Working Document on a Financing Policy for the Social Welfare Sector. This document goes beyond the current PFASP and works towards a new framework for financing the social welfare sector. The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. Equal pay for equal work - Subsidy parity across provinces Salary parity between state and non-governmental workers Resolution 1: Adoption of the Working Document on a Financing Policy for the Social Welfare Sector The NWF has adopted the Working Document on a Financing Policy for the Social Welfare Sector and proposes that this informs a review of the national financing policy. NWF wants a national financing policy that underpins and recognises provincial diversity. Plan of action: Before the end of 2010 each province will distribute the working document to their provincial government including the MEC, relevant DoSD officials, provincial treasuries and Portfolio Committees on Social Development. Resolution 2: The NWF will support JSC in legal action against the unconstitutional financing policy, which includes but is not limited to the fulfillment of contractual obligations Plan of action:
On 6 August the Free State High Court handed down a landmark judgment that has the potential to affect a new financing policy for the sector, which is driven by a constitutional framework. One of the outcomes of the judgment requires the submission of a new financing framework for the sector in the Free State, which needs to be submitted before 5 December 2010. Resolution 3: Through a JSC Task Team, the NWF will support the NAWONGO recommendations made in a submission to the court based on their compliance with the Working Document on a Financing Policy for the Social Welfare Sector. Plan of Action: The NWF will mandate the JSC to continue to work with NAWONGO through the tripartite task team, Social Welfare Action Committee, for issues where there is clear common concern. NAWONGO’s constitution and the JSC Memorandum of Understanding will be circulated to provinces for their feedback on future congruency between the JSC and NAWONGO, 3. Social Service Professions Policy In early 2010, DoSD withdrew the Social Service Professions and Occupations Bill from its current legislative programme to give the department time to develop a draft Policy on Social Service Professions. Cabinet requires that new legislation be tabled with an accompanying policy that outlines the vision of the legislation, its intended impact, and gives an overview of how the legislation will be implemented. Steering Committee of Social Service Professions Advocacy Network (SSPAN) met with departmental officials who recommended that the sector make recommendations before the drafting process is complete. We demand that the policy be inclusive of the range of social service Professions and occupational groups and recognise the informally qualified service providers who render valuable social services. Resolution 4: The members of the NWF resolve to continue to provide support to and take an active role in the Social Service Professions Advocacy Network (SSPAN). Plan of action: We will continue to support the SSPAN initiative and draw all provinces and regions into debate on the social service professions policy in a proactive way. This will include touching on issues, such as the legal position of Home Based Care workers. The NWF will support the sector to make submissions to the DoSD through consultation with their members/constituencies on the Social Service Professions policy and give feedback to SSPAN and the NWF will facilitate a national workshop. 4. South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) The NWF recognised that there has been no ratification of the registration process and the two Professional Boards that advise the council have not been appointed. Plan of action: The NWF resolves to refer these issues to the JSC and SSPAN. 5. Advisory Board To Minister Of Social Development The minister has failed to appoint the national advisory board in terms of the relevant legislation. The NWF supports its 2009 resolution that a national advisory board needs to be appointed as a matter of urgency and in consultation with civil society. The national advisory board must include representation from each province and relevant national structures. Plan of action: The NWF resolves to refer these issues to the JSC and SSPAN. 6. DoSD Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements The NWF continues to support its 2009 resolution that the numbers of forms required by the national, provincial and regional DoSD offices for M&E are overwhelming. There needs to be a rationalisation process. Plan of action: The NWF resolves to refer these issues to the JSC and SSPAN. We will notify these structures of DoSD’s intended meeting with the SACSSP to publish its report on M&E issues without the necessary consultation. 7. Recruitment & Retention Strategy The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. We request that the current Recruitment & Retention Strategy be revised to encompass the range of social service professions in both Government and Non-Governmental sector. Plan of action: The NWF resolves to refer these issues to the JSC and SSPAN. 8. A new legislative environment for social welfare and development services in SA The NWF reaffirms its commitment to Resolution 13, October 2009. Resolution 5: We call on government to work with the sector to review of the National Welfare Act of 1997. Alternatively, we call on government to work with the sector to develop a new statute to act as a reference point for the provision of social welfare and developmental social services in South Africa Plan of Action: The NWF will develop a working document on a new legislative framework. It will do this through provincial consultations and/or policy engagement workshops in each province. Provinces will make submissions to NWF National Office proposing issues for inclusion in the working document and on the current concept note (The need for an overarching legislative framework for social welfare and development services in South Africa, May 2010) by 15 February 2011. The NWF will collate submissions into a working document and request the JSC to adopt the framework. This framework will then be circulated to national and provincial Portfolio Committees on Social Development and other relevant offices. An official reference group will be mandated to guide the development of the framework. Members of this reference group will be confirmed by the end of November 2010. 9. NLDTF The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. We are disappointed with the regulations promulgated by the Minister and recommend that the minister (DTI) consults with current civil society organisations to ensure positive and useful regulations to govern the functioning of the NLDTF. We recommend that the minister create a separate board for the NLDTF. Resolution 6: The May ’09 resolution on the NLDTF is reaffirmed The National Welfare Forum The National Welfare Forum (NWF) is a membership-based organisation with constituent bodies in each province of South Africa. The annual members resolutions serve as a record of the deliberations of representatives of the 3500 member organisations of the NWF and thus are the views and opinions of the largest number of social service and development delivery workers and organisations in the country. We strive to engage constructively with government in order to develop, monitor and implement policies and programmes that contribute to building a great country. In short, the resolutions reflect what the people doing the work on the ground have to say about the policies and programmes of government and how these affect the their ability to do their work. The NWF has a partnership with the National Coalition of Social Services (NACOSS) and formal working agreements with the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty in South Africa (GCAP-SA). The NWF also works in partnership with CORE, CAFSA, SANGONeT, CIVICUS and the LRC on a project to understand and improve the funding flows to civil society in South Africa. This collective works in partnership with CDRA, SCAT, REAP and Inyathelo who are engaged in similar work. The NWF also works in partnership with the Black Sash, SPII the SACC, SSPAN, ACESS and various other partners on project specific initiatives in accord with its mandate. The NWF is a member of CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation www.forum.org.za This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.facebook.com/pages/Making-Mzansi-Better/14816882261?ref=ts Click here to download National Welfare Forum October 2010 Resolutions Bookmark this article:          |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|