By OBAKENG MAJE
The Department of Employment and Labour’s 2023 National Employment Equity said the roadshows in partnership with the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) have come to an end.
According to the Department of Employment spokesperson, Teboho Thejane, the roadshows which were conducted throughout the country under the theme: “Real transformation makes business sense”, started in July in Limpopo. Thejane further said the focus of the roadshows was to create awareness of the recently promulgated Employment Equity (EE) amendments, sector targets and regulations.
“The Amendments of the EE Act of 1998 and its Regulations are primarily aimed at empowering the Minister of Employment and Labour to regulate the setting of sector-specific EE numerical targets and the promulgation of Section 53 that deals with issuing of the EE Compliance Certificate as a prerequisite of accessing of State contracts.
“The recently released 23rd Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Annual Report showed that the South African labour market continues to be racialised and gendered. The report has shown that the status of the progress made in the implementation of affirmative action for the achievement of the equitable representation of employees from the economically disadvantaged groups in the workplace remains slow,” he said.
In her presentation to the Roadshow held at the Cape Town Lagoon Beach Hotel, the CEE Chairperson, Tabea Kabinde expressed dissatisfaction about the underrepresentation of the coloured community in both top and senior management positions in the Western Cape.
According to official statistics, coloureds only occupy 6.1% and 8.2% of the top and senior management positions in the Western Cape respectively.
“That means, coloureds are overrepresented in lower levels of employment even though they are the majority population in the Western Cape. The setting of sector-specific EE numerical targets will assist the coloured Community to be represented equally in all sectors of employment in the Western Cape,” she said.
The Director of Employment Equity of the Department, Ntsoaki Mamashela, dismissed media reports that the coloured community will be disadvantaged by the Employment Equity targets as lies.
“People talking of a point of not knowing that’s why they are spreading rumours. Everybody argues that sector EE targets are quotas, but they are not. Quotas are rigid, meaning they are not flexible. Sector targets are flexible.
“Employers will still maintain powers to determine their own annual EE targets towards achieving the regulated 5-year sector EE targets. Those employers that have surpassed the regulated minimum targets proposed per sector are encouraged to still be proactive in setting EE targets towards achieving the demographics of the EAP,” she said.
Mamashela further said the purpose of the Act is to promote equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination. She added that, the Employment Equity targets do not prevent the employment of anybody and also emphasised that no person will be dismissed or retrenched to advance EE targets.
“The act further facilitates the implementation of affirmative action measures to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by Africans, Coloureds and Indians for both genders including white women.
“EE and Affirmative Action seek to ensure the maximum participation of every citizen in the economy of the country, which is inclusive of the African, Coloured, Indian and White population groups. The EE reporting period opened on 1 September 2023 and will close on 15 January 2024,” said Mamashela.
The Guardian 