DRAFT CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR SPECIAL PUBLIC WORKS
PROGRAMMES
A Draft Code of Good Practice has been drawn up by Government in
order to set guidelines for the employment of workers in the
Government's Special Public Works Programmes, such as the
Department of Water's "Working for Water Programme".
These programmes are aimed at creating jobs in the short to
medium term. They are targeted particularly at poor communities,
particularly at women, youth and disabled people. They also aim to
ensure job development through training.
Government consulted with the Employment Equity Commission in
drawing up the code, and has now tabled it at Nedlac in order to
get input from Labour and Business.
The code
The Special Public Works programmes allow employment for a
period of up to 24 months. The code recommends that:
-
participants work for 40 hours per week;
-
participants would be entitled to 1 day's paid sick leave per
month;
-
women workers would be entitled to 4 months' unpaid maternity
leave with permission to participate for another 24 months in the
programme;
-
participants would be entitled to 2 days' paid family
responsibility leave;
-
there would be no provision for annual leave and no severance
pay at the end of 24 months;
-
for every 22 days' work, 2 days would be set aside for
training.