SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Occupational Certificate: Laundry Sorter 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
117370  Occupational Certificate: Laundry Sorter 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - Services SETA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Part-Qualification  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  23  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  SAQA 12129/20  2020-07-30  2025-07-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-07-30   2029-07-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this part-qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Laundry Sorter.

A Laundry Sorter classifies and identifies textile fibre types as well as the degree of soiling.

Rationale:
This part-qualification is important to address the skills of the current and future employees serving as a Laundry Sorter. The industry will draw the learners from the cohort of current employees who perform the function without a recognised qualification. Current qualifications do not provide for any qualifications for current skilled employees. Equally important is the high number of young people without the necessary qualifications who seek elementary occupations.

There are hundreds of small and large public and private laundries facilities across the country and all serve interest across various economic sectors. These sectors could be security (prisons and places of safety), health facilities and hospitality facilities. Qualified Laundry Sorters will increase productivity and enhance customer satisfaction for the business. The part-qualification will also restore the dignity of many employees who occupied these positions without any recognition of their professional service and will enhance job security. The employment opportunities exist for young people and women in particular.

The part-qualification will open new opportunities to the learners for growth into supervision and management responsibilities. The subsector has a huge operational range from two machines to a very large operations using large industrial machine. The scope for occupational mobility for qualified employees is significantly large, and qualified learners can move between economic sectors as well. For instance, qualified learners can work in hospitality, medical and old age homes, domestic as well and security facilities.

The part-qualification requires basic knowledge of the textiles and significant amount of on the job practice and experience. However, the actual training and turnaround need to be quick to justify investment. Otherwise an expensive and long training for laundry sorters will defeat the purpose, hence low credits for the part-qualifications. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of results or by certifying a work experience record.

RPL for access to the part-qualification:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

Entry Requirements:
  • NQF 1 with Mathematical Literacy. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This part-qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules:
  • 812101-000-00-00-KM-01, Workplace Fundamentals, NQF Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 812101-000-00-00-KM-03, Fundamental Principles of Sorting and Washing of Soiled Textiles in Laundry, NQF Level 2, 5 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 11.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 812101-000-00-00-PM-01, Receive, Verify, Classify and Make up Soiled Laundry Loads ready for Cleaning, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 812101-000-00-00-PM-03, Identify Stains on Laundry Items, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 8.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 812101-000-00-00-WM-01, Procedures to Receive, Verify and Classify and Make up Soiled Laundry Loads, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 4. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Sort and classify soiled laundry items for compliance with standard procedures.
    2. Make loads of classified soiled laundry items for washing. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Explain the characteristics of different stains in relation to their causes and impact on laundry items.
  • Explain different types of soiling in relation to impact on different types of fibres.
  • Explain procedures for sorting and classification of laundry items in relation to types of fibres and colours.
  • Ensure that verification of textiles, damages and stains correspond to original documentation.
  • Identify and correctly classify defective laundry goods following standard practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Label different classified bundles correctly for ease of identification during washing.
  • Use weighing equipment correctly to confirm the actual bundle loads.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The Skills Development Providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This Formative Assessment leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment.

    Integrated Summative Assessment:
    An External Integrated Summative Assessment conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this part-qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    An International comparability exercise was undertaken to compare the current part-qualification: Laundry Sorter with related qualifications from specific countries in terms of their scope, duration and curriculum content. The purpose of this exercise is to compare the part-qualification against existing and comparable practice internationally. The exercise was conducted with two countries Britain and Australia.

    Britain:
    In Britain, the Guilds of Cleaners and Launderers provide a short laundry worker training course. The course provides modules similar to those in the current Laundry Sorter part-qualification, amongst them, the following: Reception/collection: accepting articles, checking for damage or stains and labelling, Sorting articles are sorted manually/automated by colour, size, type of fabric and the required cleaning process. The Laundry Sorter will also be expected to perform customer service by handling payments and dealing with any customer complaints.

    Australia:
    Victoria Skills gateway provides Laundry Worker (General) courses that cover specific modules relevant to the Laundry Sorter, for instance: checking and removing stains from garments, and replacing buttons and making minor repairs.

    Conclusion:
    The two countries and specific institutions provide qualifications comparable to the proposed part-qualifications. However, these comparisons are drawn from the main qualification, Laundry Worker. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This part-qualification offers the following articulation possibilities.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Laundry Worker, NQF Level 2.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Home Based Personal Care Worker , NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for external assessment:
    In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience including Foundational Learning Competences.

    Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
    None.

    Criteria for the accreditation of providers:
    Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

    The curriculum title and code is Laundry Sorter: 812101000-00-01.

    Encompassed Trades:
    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD.
    This is not a trade.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):
    Services Seta.

    Parent Qualification:
  • 812101-000-00-00, Laundry Worker, NQF Level 2.

    Related Part-Qualifications:
  • 812101-000-00-02, Occupational Certificate: Laundry Washer, NQF Level 2.
  • 812101-000-00-03, Occupational Certificate: Laundry Finisher, NQF Level 2. 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.