By Heléne Leonard
The South African labour market is facing an important transition that affects the future of skills development and artisans. The transfer of artisans’ Red Seal database from the Department of Employment and Labour to the Department of Higher Education created a series of challenges. This transition has given rise to a necessary reregistration process for all artisans, which may affect the direction of skills development in the country.
The Department of Higher Education called on Solidarity’s Trades’ Network to convey this transition to artisans and to draw their attention to the critical importance of the reregistration process. This transition is not merely and administrative change; it is an opportunity for every tradesperson to participate in the future development of South Africa’s skills base.
One of the key aspects of this transition is adapting the database. This database is the rich source of information regarding artisans, their skills and education. It plays a crucial role in determining the essential skills list for South Africa.
One of the challenges of this process is the requirement of the Protection of Personal Information Act (No. 4 of 2013) (the POPI Act). This law protects the privacy and personal information of all individuals. This aspect makes it crucial to obtain consent to transfer personal information from one database to another. Artisans must now consider giving their consent to this transfer process, which will form the basis for the reregistration process.
Solidarity’s Trades’ Network acknowledges this challenge and has expressed its concern regarding the transfer of personal information. It is important to understand that this transfer is not merely an administrative task but a step to strengthen the skills ecosystem of the country.
Solidarity’s Trades’Network plays a crucial role as watchdog to protect the interests of artisans. The network has taken on the responsibility of monitoring the process and ensuring that it is not detrimental to members. This involvement is essential to ensure the smooth running of the reregistration process and to protect the interests of tradespeople.
In this transitional period, it is of the utmost importance that every tradesperson should pay attention to the requirement for reregistration and the transfer of personal information. The future skills base of South Africa depends on the successful implementation of this transfer. This step is not just an administrative obligation; it is the duty of every tradesperson to make a contribution to the greater skills development of the country.
At the heart of this transition process is the opportunity to strengthen skills in South Africa and to promote a new era of artisans’ skills. By approaching the reregistration process and the transfer of personal information sensibly, we can build a future rich in opportunity and skills development that all artisans can proudly embrace.
