| Summary of Resolutions NWF Policy Positions - October 2009 |
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 1. Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers (PFASP)The marches and handing over of memorandums to provincial government on equal pay for equal work have been successful, however it is necessary to maintain pressure on government to address this issue. 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: Equal Pay for Equal Work We will submit a detailed memorandum to the national and provincial portfolio committees of Social Development listing the actions we have taken in all provinces. This will allow the national portfolio committee to see the processes that have been followed after the march and the steps we have taken for them to pursue the commitments made on 28 August by their provincial counterparts. We will submit the same memorandum to provincial portfolio committees. Plan of Action: All provinces will forward a status report detailing activities after the march to National Office. This status report will also record the promises made by provincial departments and where they have placed responsibility on national government, so that provincial and national government can be held accountable. A draft by end of October will be circulated to members, and then be submitted to the portfolio committee to consider in time to influence next years budget. Resolution 2: Adjustment Appropriation Bill According to the Adjustment Appropriation Bill, each province should have an allocation through the bill to bring immediate financial relief to provinces. We will pressure government to release more funds on the basis of this bill. Plan of Action: Gauteng will draft a one-page letter that will be sent to national government and all provincial offices. The draft will be circulated on Monday 12 October. NWF members will comment on the draft (by Wednesday 14 October), which will be finalised and send to relevant national and provincial offices by Thursday 15 October. 2. 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 Resolution 3: We will rework the strategy document according to the NWF’s own position on recruitment and retention strategies. Plan of Action: The strategy needs to be reviewed. All amendments and actions going forward need to be discussed amongst members in each province. The hard copy of the existing document with comments will be distributed to members for comment. Coordinators will send members comments to the National Office by 20 October. National Office will work on a redraft and address main comments with input from Gauteng Province and NACOSS in the interim. National Office and Gauteng will draft the first NWF response by 20 November. We will meet to review the document – hard copy document and comments – in mid December. By the end of January – National Office will work with Gauteng and NACOS to construct a new NWF strategy for engagement - which will be distributed before the next MANCO meeting. 3. Social Service Professions Bill The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. We request the bill be reviewed to be inclusive of the range of social service Professions and occupational groups and recognise the informally qualified service providers who render valuable social services 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). Resolution 4: We will support the SSPAN initiative and draw all provinces and regions into that debate in a proactive way. Plan of Action: Provinces will consult with their members/constituencies on the SSPAN assessment of the Social Service Professions Bill and give feedback on the document, especially answering the questions asked in the document 4. Advisory Board To Minister Of Social Development The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. We request the minister to appoint the national advisory board in terms of the relevant legislation 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 Resolution 5: We will submit a letter to parliament to ask Minister of Social Development and also through the Portfolio Committee to provide reasons why the Advisory board has not yet been established according to the legislation. Plan of Action: National Office will draft and submit this letter. 5. Social Security Reforms ICESCR has not been ratified at the date of the meeting of the NWF members. Resolution 6: The social security reforms will be discussed in the provinces and amongst members, asking for guidance on how to pursue them, if at all, and ask whether they are useful to the NWF. Plan of Action: Provinces report to National Office by 10 January 2010 and submit input to NWF on the way forward. 6. National Anti-poverty Strategy (NAPS) The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. We support the APSSA and request that it be consulted publicly and that a joint Government / civil society reference group be established to oversee the development of the strategy Resolution 7: We will consult with our members in each province on the original policy and contents of the strategy, and decide on how to take our discussion and participation forward. 7. NLDTF The May ’09 resolution is reaffirmed. We request the minister (DTI) initiate the process to create regulations to govern the functioning of the NLDTF. We recommend that the minister (DTI) create a separate board for the NLDTF Resolution 8: The May ’09 resolution on the NLDTF is reaffirmed 8. DoSD Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements Resolution 11: The number of forms required by the national, provincial and regional DoSD offices for M&E are overwhelming. There needs to be a rationalisation process. The NWF will approach the JSC to take this issue to DoSD. Resolution 12: We will request national DoSD not to create and send out any new M&E forms without first checking that information is not already available from the provinces. Plan of Action: The core service is under threat because of the heavy administrative workload of filling in up to six (6) sets of M&E forms. There is ongoing, inconsistent and duplicate introduction of new forms by regional, provincial & national departments of finance and social development. This M&E process also affects client confidentiality negatively and points to inefficiency in national government planning and execution. We will ask national government to work with us in a process to rationalise and streamline the M&E process for greater efficiency for the sector and government. Each province will provide a list of examples of each form they are required to submit in each region to National Office by 3 December 2009. National Office will prepare an information pack for the JSC. 9. A new legislative environment for social welfare and development services in South Africa. Resolution 13: 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. JSC - Joint Strategic Committee DoSD - Department of Social Development DTI - Department of Trade & Industry M & E - Monitoring & Evaluation NACOSS - National Coalition of Social Services NAPS - National Anti Poverty Strategy NLB - National Lotteries Board NLDTF - National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund NWF - National Welfare Forum PFASP - Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers SSPAN - Social Service Practitioners Advocacy Network October 2009 – Internal Administrative Resolution 10. 2010 Year Planning Session & Funding Resolution 9: Provinces will spend time consulting and detailing a schedule of programme activities and meetings for the year. This will be sent to the national office for compilation and distribution to all provinces and to promote the work of the organisation. Resolution 10: Provinces will prepare their NLDTF applications, based on the ’08 year NLDTF application form. It will be premised on specific and desired objectives, format and outputs for the province. Provinces will submit to the National Office 14 November 2009. Bookmark this article:          |
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