Tag: Skills Development Levy (SDL)

South Africa’s businesses pay billions in skills levies. Yet the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA’s) administration signals a crisis that could derail our economic future. This retains the original intent but adds urgency.

The draft tax law amendment published in August and targeting foreign employers has inadvertently led to an uproar amongst South African remote workers who fear the law change may disincentivise foreign employers from retaining the services of South African talent.

South Africa remains a hot spot for remote work. On the one hand, digital nomads and remote workers with foreign employers get to enjoy the South African lifestyle, good weather, and the luxury of earning Dollars and Pounds. On the other, foreign companies benefit from employing skilled South Africans, comparatively cheaper than their foreign counterparts, and without the burden of adhering to South African tax compliance regulations.

The annual Annual Training Report (ATR) and Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) submission deadline is 30 April 2022 however some SETAs have already extended their submission dates. But for most the submission deadline remains at the end of this month. I unpack the importance of Skills Development Levy (SDL) for companies.

Do your employees fully understand the processes behind payroll? Payroll, for many people, remains a mystery. The processes and calculations that sit behind the monthly amount that lands in the bank account are vague and complicated. Many employees find navigating the maze of benefits, healthcare and pension payments to be overwhelming and often don’t really understand why they’ve been paid more or less each month.

As the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Reports (ATR) submission deadline draws closer, employers are encouraged to make their skills development submissions as soon as possible because unlike the previous year, there will not be an automatic extension.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the current business environment can truly be defined as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) – a constant state of flux. No business is immune to these factors, regardless of size or industry.

The current COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown implemented by the South African government, has had a significantly negative impact on businesses. Some have only recently been able to commence operations with the start of the current alert level 1 status.

The Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, delivered his much anticipated Medium-term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday, 28 October 2020. Hard choices and reform implementation are key to achieving five-year stabilisation plan.

National Treasury has published another draft bill to formalise the tax relief measures available in response to the devastating covid-19 pandemic. It is hoped this will clarify uncertainty and offer some relief during these tough times.