Curated by Lezé

1 July 2023

Overview

• EE Amendment Bill
• Employer of Record services
• Breaking news
• Helpdesk Tips
• Staff Bio -Firdous Ebrahim
• New product features
• Partnerships
• Updates
• Announcement – Skill Master webinar recap

More about the new EE Amendment bill

The Amendment to this bill, signed by the President in April, sets five-year sector targets for each province, that prescribes demographic and gender targets for companies that employ more than 50 employees.

The Employment Equity Act aims to redress the imbalances of South Africa’s past. The idea is to move towards reflecting the country’s demographics in the workplace. The Amendment to this bill, signed by the President in April, sets five-year sector targets for each province, (and national targets for employees operating nationally), that prescribes demographic and gender targets for companies that employ more than 50 employees.

These targets involve top management, senior management, professionally qualified and skilled levels. They also include employees with disabilities. Compliance certificates (issued by the Minister of Employment and Labour) for employers in good standing, will be required for any company applying for government contracts.

The economic sectors affected in this amendment are;

• agriculture
• forestry and fishing
• manufacturing
• mining and quarrying
• construction
• financial and insurance activities
• transportation and storage
• information and communication
• water supply
• sewerage
• waste management and remedial activities
• electricity
• gas steam and air conditioning supply
• human health and social work activities
• arts
• entertainment and recreation
• real estate activities
• professional
• scientific and technical activities
• wholesale and retail trade
• repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
• accommodation and food service activities
• public administration and defence
• compulsory social security
• education and administrative and support activities.

To see the Tables of the provincial targets, CLICK HERE.

While the largest trade union federations support this amendment bill, many commentators and role players have questions and concerns, (including court challenges and possible constitutional breaches), especially around the methodology used to arrive at these targets. There are also fears that this move will hamper economic development, thereby increasing poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Statistics show that Black unemployment has grown since the implementation of race-based policies. ( Stats SA’s 2022 fourth quarter (Q4) Labour Force Survey ). Instead of helping the poor, it could instead hurt them by discouraging investment, growth, and jobs.

Experience has shown that these “quotas” make the rich, richer, and leave the poor sinking further into poverty.

And the Constitutional principle of non-racialism is also at risk here. How do employers assess the race of their employees, other than these employees self-identifying? Should the private sector adopt the public sector racialism seen when SAPS Commissioner Jackie Selebi kept a police post open rather than promote the “wrong” race?

Most fair-minded South Africans acknowledge the urgency needed to correct the unfair labour practices of our past. But this new amendment has resulted in more questions than answers. At the moment it seems to be a blunt instrument being used to deal with a sensitive issue that affects every working person in South Africa.

Most South Africans agree that the unfair labour practices of the past have to be corrected.

 – Written by Leslie Hurst –

Expand Your Global workforce with Employer of Record Services

In the fast-paced business world, organizations face many challenges when it comes to managing their global workforce. Managing HR and Payroll functions can be overwhelming as they navigate complex employment laws and ensure compliance with local regulations. This is where Employer of Record (EOR) services come to the fore. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using Employer of Record services and how they can help businesses streamline their operations, reduce risk, and make the most of growth opportunities.

1. Global Expansion Made Simple:
2. Compliance and Risk Mitigation:
3. Workforce Flexibility:
1. Global Expansion Made Simple:

Expanding into new markets is an exciting opportunity for any business, but it also comes with many challenges. Employer of Record services can simplify the process by handling all aspects of international employment. This includes local payroll runs, tax compliance, benefits administration, and legal compliance. By engaging the expertise of an EOR, companies can enter new markets faster, and easier, without the need to establish costly legal entities or navigate unfamiliar HR landscapes.

2. Compliance and Risk Mitigation:

Compliance with dynamic employment laws and regulations is essential for any organization. Because EORs specialize in local labour laws, they can ensure that businesses remain fully compliant with local regulations, employment contracts, tax requirements, and reporting obligations. By entrusting these responsibilities to an EOR, companies can avoid costly penalties, legal disputes, and reputational damage.

3. Workforce Flexibility:

Agility is the key in today’s high-powered business environment. EOR services provide businesses with the flexibility to scale their workforce up or down, quickly, depending on project demands or market fluctuations. Whether it’s hiring temporary staff, engaging independent contractors, or managing seasonal workforce requirements, EORs offer the necessary infrastructure and expertise to ensure seamless workforce management.

4. Focus on Core Business Functions:
5. Access to Global Expertise:
6. Cost Efficiency:
4. Focus on Core Business Functions:

Managing HR and payroll functions can be time-consuming and divert attention from core business activities. By outsourcing these administrative tasks to an EOR, companies can free up valuable time and internal resources. This allows management and HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives, talent development, and driving business growth, and leave employment administration to the experts.

5. Access to Global Expertise:

Employer of Record services bring extensive experience in dealing with the complexities of international employment. With a global network of in-country experts, EORs have a fundamental understanding of local labour markets, employment regulations, cultural nuances, and best practices. This expertise gives businesses a competitive edge that enables them to attract and retain top talent in foreign markets.

6. Cost Efficiency:

Opting for an EOR should lead to significant cost savings for businesses. By leveraging the EOR’s infrastructure, companies eliminate the need to establish local entities and manage multiple payroll and HR technologies. EORs can consolidate invoicing, which ensures transparency and simplifies financial management. And because compliance is taken care of, the risk of costly penalties and fines is minimized.

Employer of Record services is a strategic solution for businesses that decide to expand globally. They manage compliance and optimize workforce management. They ease the burden of international employment administration and provide expertise and flexibility. EORs enable organizations to focus on what they do best: drive innovation and growth, in a competitive environment. Enlisting an EOR partner can unlock new opportunities and set your business up for international success.

When you consider engaging an Employer of Record service, it’s essential to choose a trusted partner with a proven track record. Paymaster Business Solutions, a leading provider of Employer of Record services, offers comprehensive solutions and legal expertise across all African countries. With their extensive knowledge of local labour markets and compliance requirements, Paymaster Business Solutions can support your organization’s expansion, ensuring seamless HR and payroll operations. Discover how Paymaster Business Solutions can empower your global growth at https://www.paymaster.co.za/ or call Ian Hurst at 082 898 5006 / ian@paymaster.co.za.

News

Personal Income Tax Filing Season

Here are the dates and criteria for the 2023 Filing Season:

Individual taxpayers (non-provisional): 7 July 2023 @ 20:00 to 23 October 2023
Provisional taxpayers: 7 July 2023 @ 20:00 to 24 January 2024

Read the full article Personal Income tax

Article

Electricity Tariff Increases:

Electricity tariff increase for municipalities for the 2023/24 financial year – increase of 18.49% is effective on 1 July 2023.

Electricity tariff increase for standard Eskom customers – increase of 18.65% was effective on 1 April 2023.

Helpdesk Tips

How to process Bulk Uploads for Pay Rate details

Besides processing payroll input on the respective employees’ records, capturing payroll information can also be processed via the Bulk Actions Screen. Bulk entries can be uploaded to the Payrate details screen. The Pay Rates Screen defines the employee’s package details as well as the frequency of payment. Templates to update information to other selected screens, are also available. New required information can be captured on the template spreadsheet and uploaded from the Bulk Actions Screen.

Click on below instructions on how to process Pay Rate details via Bulk uploads.

How to process Pay Rate details via Bulk uploads

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

How to view leave balances in hours

Employees are able to view their leave balances, accrual, max balance and leave value breakdown in hours once the company setting has been configured.
The Leave Balances Screen hosts the details of the employee’s leave entitlement including the leave accrual, leave balance and when the leave is due to expire.

Click below for directions on how to view leave balances in hours.

How to view leave balances in hours

Staff Bio

Meet Firdous Ebrahim

Meet Firdous Ebrahim, our extraordinary finance professional. She is our favorite colleague, a trusted member of the Paymaster team for many years, and relied upon by everyone. Firdous is the implementation manager, with the important task of welcoming the new kids to the class.

She’s responsible for the take-on of all new outsource and inhouse clients, and then provides the training afterwards. For the online clients specifically, she is a vital contact to set them up for self-help. She is also Paymaster’s client-care manager. The client-care team receives the processed payroll, they check it and then send it out to the client. She is responsible for accuracy and client communication. This is a new process that has recently been implemented, and she is happy with the results so far.

Firdous has lived in Wynberg all her life. She is a widow with 2 sisters and 2 married sons. She loves her 3 grandchildren and is their favorite baby-sitter. Her latest 6 month-old grandson is getting lots of attention from ‘ma’ lately. Firdous loves family life, being spoiled and spoiling all her children. When she’s not working, she enjoys snuggling in bed and watching Netflix. She also enjoys the outdoors, especially a good braai. She has a standing appointment with her sister for a ‘once a month getaway’ to a holiday resort somewhere.

Firdous attended Wittebome High School, and then went on to gain knowledge at the various places she worked. The first 15 years of her working career she worked in the finance industry, where she did debtors, creditors, wages and cashbook. She was given an opportunity to be trained in VIP, and ever since then, she has worked in payroll. In 2010 Firdous started her payroll career at a company that Paymaster later merged with, and she became a member of the team here. With 13 years of payroll experience under her belt, she is a seasoned professional. She consistently demonstrates her commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and delivering exceptional service.
She says what drives her excellence at work is working with clients, and with a team. And when asked what else she is involved with in the office, she laughs and says “eating and exercise”. This fabulous lady in her 50’s, conscientiously takes part in the office bootcamp every week.

Her calm demeanour perfectly illustrates her philosophy of “Be the same everyday”, and her colleagues can see “it costs nothing to smile”! Her patient and easy-going personality is a delight to have at the office and Paymaster is thankful for her years of outstanding service with us.

New Product Features

New enhancements

Pacey | Announcement Messages

We are excited to announce an additional template message option for Pacey.

Easily communicate custom announcements to your employees via WhatsApp.

The custom form feature is only available to customers on the Master edition and therefore this specific Pacey announcement feature is only available on Master edition, whereas the other message templates are available for customers that have licensed Pacey.

To ensure compliance with WhatsApp’s guidelines, which restrict businesses from sending arbitrary messages, we have designed a structured message process for your announcements.
When an announcement is sent, your employees will receive a template message inviting them to read it. By simply tapping on the “Read Announcement” button within WhatsApp, they will be sent the message you wish to communicate.

By utilising the bulk upload screen, you can effortlessly trigger the distribution of your announcements. All you need to do is populate an Excel sheet with the employee numbers of the employees who should receive the announcement.

We believe this new feature provides a convenient and efficient way to keep your employees updated with important news and information. Experience seamless communication and enhanced employee engagement with our latest system enhancement!

Note: This feature requires a Custom Form to be set up where an admin user can capture the message they wish to send out. This will be the mechanism for creating the announcement message.

Any questions or issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Partnerships

Our partnership with Biosyn and Floatpays is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Building Trust between Employer and Employee

Unlock your payroll’s full potential and optimize your workflow management with Time Master’s powerful time and attendance features

Discover how Time Master can transform your workflow management

At Time Master, we understand the critical role of effective workflow management in running a smooth and efficient payroll system. In the next few newsletters, we will explore how Time Mater’s advanced time and attendance features can revolutionize your workflow management. Each newsletter will show a new feature, providing valuable insights and practical tips for optimizing your workflow.

From simplified leave applications to centralized warnings and overtime management, as well as streamlined staff movement and seamless payroll integration, we are dedicated to empowering you with the tools to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Feature 1: Simplified Leave Application Process

Say goodbye to paperwork and administrative burdens. With our software, employees can easily apply for leave, reducing the workload on the Payroll User. This streamlined process saves time, allowing your team to focus on more strategic tasks.

Click to enlarge

If you are interested in learning more about Time Master’s Time and Attendance system, be sure to visit our website for more information. There you can find detailed articles, product reviews etc to help you make an informed decision about your time and attendance system. For more information on

services and prices, simply click here.

Discover the benefits of Time Master’s Time and Attendance!

Free consultation


Contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

floatpays

Paymaster Employee financial wellbeing

Financial stress is bad for your staff and your bottom line!

The best way Floatpays, in partnership with Paymaster, can help reduce debt is by providing on-demand access to earned wages through integration with Paymaster payroll. Employees can access their earned-but-unpaid wages through EFT, instant money vouchers, or prepaid vouchers. If you want to improve financial stability and increase happiness and productivity among your employees, reach out to us.
And for employers, Floatpays can help streamline the payroll process and reduce the administrative burden of managing a large, seasonal workforce.

As a Paymaster partner, Floatpays is already integrated into the Paymaster payroll system, so set-up is quick and easy! Get in touch with Ian Hurst at ian@paymaster.co.za, +2782 898 5006, to book a free DEMO.

Book a demo

Ian Hurst

Paymaster Updates

Welcome to the payroll news updates! Here, you will find the latest updates and information on all things payroll. We’ve got you covered from employee payroll and payroll tax to payroll management and payroll software.

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

Weekly updates

July

• Reports | Classic Report Parameters converted to Nextgen
• Cameroon | New Annual DIPE Report
• Zimbabwe USD | P2 Form enhancement to cater for dual currencies
• South Africa | UIF Declaration File Name Enhancement
• eSwatini | PAYE Monthly Remittance Report enhancement

Africa updates

July

• South Africa – Interest Rate Change
• Nigeria Statutory Update

Paymaster Announcement

Welcome to our “Free Payroll Knowledge” Q & A series! We understand that payroll can be a complex and challenging task for small businesses, which is why we want to help. We’re excited to announce that our Q & A virtual sessions will take place twice a month, on a  Wednesday at 10:00-10:30. The series will be an open discussion format.

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Facebook


Linkedin

Closed

• Wednesday
• 21 June
• 10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Register here

• Wednesday
• 5 July
• 10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this virtual series is aimed at all of you.

SDL & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Can SDL be claimed back? – Yes !

Employers who pay their skills development levies are entitled to claim back a sum of money used to train and upskill their staff from their paid skills development levies.

The new E-learning service from Skill Master

Recap on the webinar

Wednesday 14 June saw the first free webinar on this new platform, presented by Deon Macauley. The idea is to aid businesses to upskill their workforce, for free. Apart from the obvious benefit of increased skills, it can also unlock funds from the Skills Development Levy.

And that is what this first webinar was all about. A representative from Developcore (our trusted partner) explained their services to train staff, and to monetize the time spent by your company training your staff. The speaker touched on the required Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and an Annual Training Report (ATR) that is required to make the annual submission eligible to claim back on the Mandatory Grant. They have a formula that enables a company to approach their SETA with these statistics, and how to claim back a percentage of the discretionary part of the money spent on skills development. This will make upskilling, development and compliance much simpler.

The webinar was informative and interactive, allowing participants to ask questions and unpack concepts. For those that missed this webinar, find the recording HERE. 🎦

Please note – this recording will be available until 30 July 2023

We will announce the next webinar details soon.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

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👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

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