DURBAN - THE provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) says it has not turned a blind eye to the grievances of social workers in the province.
Mhlaba Memela, spokesperson for the department, said the pleas of the social workers had not gone unnoticed, but the challenge of funds spanned across various departments and not just that of Social Development.
Memela said that the department was unable to absorb social workers hired on a contract to a full-time basis due to financial constraints.
The department recently awarded a four-month internship contract to more than 967 unemployed social worker graduates after finances for the posts were provided by the national government. They were tasked with dealing with gender-based violence and femicide, substance abuse prevention programmes, psychosocial support to orphaned and vulnerable children, and Covid-19 cases in communities.
Funds were made available by the government for scholarships, for those who aspired to be social workers, as this was deemed to be a scarce skill. Upon completion of their studies, they would then be absorbed. However, the scholarship programme was discontinued due to a limited budget to absorb qualified workers.
Memela said that budget cuts had made a lasting impact on the employment of social workers.
“Due to budget cuts, the department finds itself in a serious predicament as it is unable to appoint social workers on a permanent basis. Some of these social workers’ studies were funded by their own struggling parents,” said Memela.
He emphasised that the recruitment depends on the availability of the budget and the department cannot make any guarantees in this regard.
“It is painful that there are people who go to university to get their qualifications and then struggle to get employment.
“However, each and every post that is available has to be funded. If you employ a social worker, you must talk to issues of provident funds, 13th cheque and so on.
“So you need to have a serious budget to ensure that available posts are funded rightfully so that there will not be any inequality.”
Part of the department’s intervention methods include finding contracts with NPOs as well as through the Covid-19 pandemic stimulus package.
Memela said that there were currently negotiations between the national government and other departments to encourage them to absorb social workers.
The department has been furnished with a seven-day turn-around period.
“The MEC and head of department have an open door policy. The relevant parties will be engaged accordingly to reach an amicable solution,” he said.
This comes after a group of social workers held a peaceful protest outside the departmental headquarters in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, to submit a memorandum of demands. Dressed in all black and in their graduation regalia, the social workers demanded full-time employment as opposed to short-term contracts, and a full salary, on the contractual opportunities.
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