violators in 2007
20 November 2006
"The new year would see an even more intensified fight against employment
equity violators," Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana, said today
(Monday).
He was addressing the launch of a new multimillion rand computer literacy
skills centre for the people with disabilities in Richards Bay, in the northern
KwaZulu Natal.
He said the department's investigation of such companies, which led to much
controversy this year, was just the beginning.
"The issue of employment equity violation is going to be my project next
year. Employment equity reports indicate that eleven years since our democracy,
we have not moved much in the higher echelons of industry in terms of race and
gender; while skills development reports indicate that only two percent of
people with disabilities are participating in our programmes, despite the new
incentives that we have introduced. These are the kinds of things that make
people uncomfortable," he said.
Minister Mdladlana said workers and the current labour legislation were the
primary reason the country's economy was doing so well.
"Employment Equity is about affirming people. But the way people communicate
and treat people with disabilities is so sad. Employers were still shunning
people with disabilities when it comes to providing them with jobs," he
said.
Commending the private sector for having sponsored the centre which boasts
about 60 new computers, Minister Mdladlana said only with the co-operation of
all stake holders would the government be able to deliver on its skills
empowerment mandate.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
20 November 2006
