Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) Guide 2026
A plain-English guide to the Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report for South African employers. Covers what it is, who must submit, SETA deadlines, the OFO 2021 code system, mandatory grant recovery, and step-by-step instructions for submission.
Quick navigation
- Step-by-step WSP/ATR submission guide - how to actually submit
- Free WSP template - structure, sections, required fields
- WSP sample example - see a filled-out WSP
- OFO Code Mapper 2021 - look up OFO codes for your staff
What is a Workplace Skills Plan?
A Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) is a document that tells your SETA what training you plan to deliver to your employees in the coming year. It is paired with an Annual Training Report (ATR), which reports on training that was actually delivered in the previous year.
Together, WSP and ATR submissions are how South African employers unlock the mandatory grant - a 20% refund of the Skills Development Levy (SDL) you already paid to SARS. If you don't submit, that money stays in the SETA discretionary pool and you lose it.
Who must submit a WSP and ATR?
You must submit a WSP and ATR if your organisation pays the Skills Development Levy (SDL), which applies to any employer with an annual payroll above R500,000. You don't have to submit - but if you don't, you forfeit the 20% mandatory grant that SARS already deducted from your payroll.
Smaller employers (below the SDL threshold) can still submit voluntarily and may qualify for SETA discretionary grants that fund learnerships, bursaries and apprenticeships.
What you need before submitting
- A registered SDF - your Skills Development Facilitator must be registered with your SETA
- SETA login - each SETA runs its own online submission portal (not a shared system)
- Employee list with OFO codes - every employee mapped to an OFO 2021 code. Use our free mapper
- Equity profile - demographic breakdown by race, gender, disability, occupational level
- Training actuals (for ATR) - what was delivered in the prior year, to whom, from whom
- Training plan (for WSP) - what you plan to deliver, when, to whom, why
- Committee consultation - sign-off from the workplace skills committee or worker representative
Which SETA do I belong to?
Your SETA is determined by your main business activity. There are 21 SETAs in South Africa, each covering a different sector. Common ones include:
- merSETA - manufacturing, engineering
- Services SETA - business services
- MICT SETA - media, ICT, electronics
- FP&M SETA - fibre, processing, manufacturing
- W&RSETA - wholesale and retail
- HWSETA - health and welfare
- FoodBev SETA - food and beverage
- TETA - transport
- CETA - construction
- BankSETA - banking
- ETDP SETA - education and training
- AgriSETA - agriculture
Check your SIC code on your SARS registration to confirm which SETA you fall under. If in doubt, call your current SETA - they can redirect you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Workplace Skills Plan?
A Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) is an annual document that South African employers with 50 or more employees (or any employer registered for SDL) submit to their SETA. It sets out the training the employer plans to do in the coming year and who the training will be delivered to. Submitting a WSP is required to claim back a portion of the Skills Development Levy (SDL) as a mandatory grant.
What is the difference between WSP and ATR?
The WSP (Workplace Skills Plan) looks forward - it describes the training the employer plans to do in the coming year. The ATR (Annual Training Report) looks backward - it reports on the training that was actually delivered in the previous year. Both are submitted together to the employer's SETA, usually by 30 April each year.
When is the WSP/ATR deadline for 2026?
The standard WSP and ATR submission deadline is 30 April each year. For the 2026-2027 cycle, WSPs and ATRs must be submitted to your SETA by 30 April 2026. Some SETAs grant extensions in specific circumstances - check with your SETA directly if you may miss the deadline.
Who needs to submit a WSP?
Any employer registered for the Skills Development Levy (SDL) who pays more than R500,000 per year in payroll must submit a WSP and ATR to their SETA to claim back the mandatory grant (20% of SDL paid). Smaller employers can submit voluntarily and may still claim discretionary grants depending on the SETA.
What is a Skills Development Facilitator (SDF)?
A Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) is the person responsible for coordinating an employer's skills development activities and WSP/ATR submission. An SDF can be an internal employee or an external consultant. SDFs must be registered with the relevant SETA and typically complete an SDF qualification (NQF level 5).
How much can I claim back through the mandatory grant?
If your WSP and ATR are submitted and approved, you can claim back 20% of the Skills Development Levy (SDL) you paid in the previous year as a mandatory grant. Additional funding is available through discretionary grants for specific initiatives like learnerships, bursaries and apprenticeships.
What are OFO codes and why do I need them?
OFO codes are six-digit occupation codes from the Organising Framework for Occupations 2021. Every employee and every planned training intervention on your WSP must be linked to an OFO 2021 code. Use our free OFO Code Mapper to look up codes for your staff.
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- OFO Code Mapper 2021 - search 1,511 codes or paste a list of job titles
- WSP template
- WSP sample
- Submission guide
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