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How people with disabilities can help you achieve your B-BBEE targets

Jan 8, 2024

How people with disabilities can help you achieve your B-BBEE targets

by | Jan 8, 2024 | Inclusive Employment, Socio-Economic Development

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How employing people with disabilities can boost your B-BBEE scorecard

If you are a business owner in South Africa, you may be familiar with the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework, which aims to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of black people in the country. You may also be aware of the benefits of complying with the B-BBEE requirements, such as accessing government contracts, tenders, and grants, as well as improving your reputation and competitiveness in the market. But did you know that employing people with disabilities can also help you improve your B-BBEE score and gain more advantages for your business? In this blog post, we will explain how hiring and training people with disabilities can contribute to your B-BBEE compliance and performance, as well as the financial and non-financial incentives that you can access by doing so.

How Employing People with Disabilities Can Contribute to Your B-BBEE Score

The B-BBEE framework consists of various elements, such as ownership, management, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and socio-economic development, that measure the level of B-BBEE compliance of businesses. Each element has a set of indicators and targets that businesses have to meet or exceed to achieve a certain score and level. Employing people with disabilities can help you score points in several elements, especially in the skills development and socio-economic development elements. For example, you can score points for:
  • The percentage of black employees who are participating in learnerships, internships, or apprenticeships, including those who are disabled.
  • The percentage of black employees who are receiving bursaries or other educational assistance, including those who are disabled.
  • The percentage of black employees who are receiving recognised qualifications, including those who are disabled.
  • The amount of money spent on skills development initiatives for black employees, including those who are disabled.
  • The amount of money spent on socio-economic development initiatives that benefit black people, including those who are disabled.
By employing people with disabilities, you can increase the number and proportion of black employees who are benefiting from your skills development and socio-economic development programmes, and thus boost your B-BBEE score. You can also improve your performance in other elements, such as management and ownership, by promoting and empowering people with disabilities to take up leadership and ownership positions in your business.

The Financial and Non-Financial Incentives of Employing People with Disabilities

Besides improving your B-BBEE score, employing people with disabilities can also bring you financial and non-financial incentives that can enhance your business performance and profitability. Some of these incentives are:
  • Tax deduction for learnership allowances: This allows you to claim a deduction for the costs incurred in implementing a registered learnership agreement with a person with a disability. The deduction amount depends on the NQF level of the learnership and the disability status of the learner.
  • Reduction of the skills development levy: This is a compulsory levy that you have to pay to fund education and training. You can claim a rebate on the levy if you employ people with disabilities and meet certain criteria, such as having a workplace skills plan and an annual training report.
  • Enhancement of the diversity and social responsibility of your business: By employing people with disabilities, you can demonstrate your commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice, and thus improve your reputation and brand image among your customers, suppliers, and partners.
  • Improvement of the morale and productivity of your workforce: By employing people with disabilities, you can create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and innovation. You can also benefit from the skills, talents, and loyalty of people with disabilities, who can bring unique perspectives and solutions to your business challenges.
  • Compliance with the Employment Equity Act: This is a legislation that prohibits unfair discrimination and promotes affirmative action for designated groups, including people with disabilities. By employing people with disabilities, you can avoid legal penalties and sanctions for non-compliance, and also contribute to the national goal of achieving equal opportunity and representation in the labour market.

Conclusion

Employing people with disabilities is not only a moral and legal obligation, but also a smart and strategic business decision. By hiring and training people with disabilities, you can improve your B-BBEE score and access various financial and non-financial incentives that can boost your business performance and profitability. You can also make a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities and the society at large, by creating more opportunities and empowerment for them. If you are interested in employing people with disabilities or want to learn more about the B-BBEE framework and its benefits, please contact us today. We have the expertise and experience to help you achieve your B-BBEE goals and objectives.

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