The Department of Labour has rejected claims that the proposed changes to labour laws would result in job losses for over a million people.
The statement was issued by trade union solidarity. Solidarity said about 80 percent of all economically active coloured people “will have to look for work in other parts of the country.’’
It went on to say almost one million coloured workers in the Western Cape will lose their jobs to their African counterparts.
Solidarity further said in KwaZulu-Natal, the proposed amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which make national rather than provincial demographics the determining factor in affirmative action, will result in about 300 000 Indians losing their jobs.
Thembinkosi Mkalipi, Chief Director of Labour Relations in the Department of Labour said, “We do not know the basis upon which they arrived at these figures. If that is their view, Employment Equity as it stands, says when implemented, regional and national demographics must be taken into account. If taking national demographics into account will cause job losses why has the employment of white workers not decreased over the past twelve years of the implementation of the act.’’
“It doesn’t matter for Africans or Coloured workers; their representation is below their economically active population whether you take national or provincial demographics into consideration. The only reason we have put the proposal on the table is because employers have been asking the department “how do you take both National and Provincial Economically Active Population (EAP) into consideration.’’
Mkalipi said it should remember that “this is only a proposal and if there are unintended consequences, these should be raised at National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).’’
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Source: Department of Labour
