To address the country’s high unemployment rate, the Department of Public Service and Administration announced on Thursday that previous experience would no longer be required for public service entry-level jobs.
Minister Noxolo Kiviet said this while responding to a question in parliament on progress regarding the scrapping of the requirement of work experience.
She said a revised directive would be issued before the end of November with clear criteria on how executive authorities may identify entry-level posts.
“The revised directive will highlight that experience is not required in all positions up until level six, where such positions have no supervisory responsibilities,” said Kiviet.
“In terms of the Public Service Act, the responsibility for identifying these specific posts rests with the executive authority of the respective department.
“Currently, posts with no experience requirements are also being advertised within the public service,” said Kiviet.
The minister also announced that the department is working on determining suitable tools from reputable test developers that will be endorsed to evaluate ethics across the public service.
“The department is currently working on determining suitable tools from reputable test developers that are operating in the market.
“The various psychometric tools being considered include both overt and/or covert assessments to assess an individual’s propensity and attitude towards integrity.
“Such instruments are mainly personality questionnaires from reputable and verified psychometric test developers.
“The vetting process will take into account various factors including but not limited to the legality of the tests, the perspectives of organised labour, the necessity to validate the adopted selection instruments in accordance with the Employment Equity Act of 1998, and the consideration of cultural and contextual factors that may impact the assessment outcomes,” said Kieviet.
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