Employers using learnerships as part of their Skills Development and B-BBEE strategies are being urged to act now, as the registration of legacy learnerships is coming to an end.
All new learnerships must now be registered under the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) framework. While many QCTO-aligned learnerships are already published and available for implementation, the transition requires careful planning to ensure continued compliance and maximum B-BBEE benefit.
According to Mariette van Wyk, head of human capital services at The BEE Chamber, this marks a significant shift that employers can no longer delay.
“The window for registering legacy learnerships is closing. Employers who still rely on older programmes need to register for their last legacy learnership enrolment timeously or transition to QCTO-aligned learnerships to protect their Skills Development scores and avoid compliance gaps,” says van Wyk.
She notes that QCTO learnerships are already being implemented by forward-thinking companies and are progressing through verification processes.
However, the shift still demands proactive planning as implementation timelines, compliance requirements and qualification criteria can differ significantly from legacy learnerships.
“The QCTO model brings a more occupationally directed approach, which ultimately strengthens the value of learnerships for both the learner and the business,” van Wyk explains. “But businesses need to update their training plans to ensure a smooth transition.”
The official list of QCTO-aligned learnerships is published by the QCTO and is readily accessible on its website. Employers are encouraged to review this list in consultation with their training providers.
The BEE Chamber advises all companies to engage early with Skills Development specialists to map out their transition strategy. Those who act promptly will not only remain compliant but will also position themselves to extract greater value from their learnership investments under the new framework.