Overview of People @ SARS
SARS recognises that its people are the drivers of its success. Regular employee engagement surveys are completed and a programmes of action are being implemented to ensure that SARS is staffed by people who are truly engaged and inspired by the opportunity and challenge to contribute to nation-building. We continue to strive to improve professionalism, ensure continuous performance improvement and the retention of critical personnel.
Performance Highlights
• Repositioning SARS as a “value proposition” for current and future employees in our quest to become an “Employer of Choice”; • A new recruitment process and service level agreements were implemented with the aim to reduce the Recruitment Cycle with up to 50%;
• Our Employee Attitude levels, which we measure through the Employee Engagement Survey were determined with the successful implementation of a programme of action to improve the level of employee engagement;
• Assisted the organisation to build additional Capacity and Capability (numbers and skills) especially for the Modernisation Agenda aspirations. Progress is positive with a recruitment rate of 11% year to date;
• Enhanced and implemented the new Individual Performance Management System.
• Successful concluding of various Collective Agreements with Organised Labour, especially the multi-term Substantive (wage) Agreement that was negotiated and signed with National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU);
• Achieving Employment Equity Black Profile targets (We achieved 65% Black representation within SARS);
• Establishing Primary Health Care Services at Customs land border posts; and
• Building additional capacity and capability in the HR Team to deliver. The HR professionalism ratio has increased with 18% from last year with specific focus on improving the HR Business Partner Concept.
Conclusion
SARS continues to focus on attracting, developing and retaining staff, raising skills levels and addressing growth opportunities. We will set challenging targets and measures for staff, provide regular, clear and constructive feedback, and encourage innovation and new ideas. We recognise that a motivated, skilled workforce with high levels of engagement result in improved business success – and this is vital to achieve our mandate and aspirations. The SARS Governance Framework details the structures and processes to facilitate and monitor effective management of the organisation, including mechanisms to ensure legal compliance and prevent improper or unlawful behaviour. The framework supports enhanced organisational performance while ensuring balance and alignment with conformance requirements.
