(Government Gazette No 34032, 18 February 2011)

Part of the developmental plan revealed in the 2011 budget is an increase in the scope of the Expanded Public Works Programme as a job creation intervention. Significantly, this growth will take place within community-based projects and at local government level. We can expect to see a continuation and growth in increased growth in ECD staffing and programmes through the extended EPWP.

The Code of Good Practice has been promulgated to guard against the exploitation of people seeking to escape unemployment through Expanded Public Works opportunities. The Code provides guidelines for the protection of workers and recognises and advances their basic rights. It encourages employers to prioritise targeting vulnerable groups, especially women, female-headed households, youth, the disabled and households coping with HIV and AIDS. Moreover, it provides guidelines for working conditions, payment and rates of pay, disciplinary and grievance procedures.

The Code states that employers must comply with the relevant Labour laws and provides guidance on how those involved in Expanded Public Works Programmes can in fact comply with these laws.

Some of the guidelines include:

• The setting of targets for employment of women (55%), youth (40%, people with disabilities (2%).
• The local community must be consulted about the establishment of any EPWP.
• Additional targeting criteria are recommended to ensure the most vulnerable households are reached, including households where the head has less than a primary education; households with less than one full time income.
• Workers must be paid at least the minimum wage stipulated in the Ministerial Determination: EPWP
• Workers must be given written particulars of the employment and verbal explanations of their rate of pay.
• Hours of work are limited to 40 hours per week.
• A maximum of one day paid sick leave for every month worked for those who work more than four days per week.

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The Code of Good Practice