On 17 to 18 November 2011, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) in KwaZulu-Natal province will host an Employment Equity (EE) Hearing on Gender Transformation in the Workplace.
In accordance therefore with its powers outlined in the CGE Act, the CGE will draw a sample of Directors-General (DGs) from the public sector, and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from the private sector, for them to account for the slow pace of gender transformation in the workplace, and inadequate promotion of women with disabilities, gender equality and women empowerment.
These hearings will be conducted at the Durban Manor Hotel, 93-96 Margaret Mncad (ex Victoria Embankment, Durban, 4001. The CGE Act provides for the CGE to convene public hearings, in accordance with its monitoring role.
The CGE intends convening these public hearings with organs of the state, the private sector and civil society in order to raise awareness regarding employment equity obligations and demand accountability for these, identifying challenges and developing recommendations to ensure the realisation of gender equality in the workplace.
The objectives of the hearings are as follows:
- To assess the impact of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) on women in both the public and private sector, and address institutional and systematic barriers to their economic progress
- To hold public and private sector Directors accountable for non-compliance with the EEA
- To raise awareness on relevant international commitments and the importance of compliance
- To assess what measures have been put in place in the work place to bring about transformation in terms of gender and disability.
- To share experiences and identify challenges faced by CEOs and Director-Generals in the implementation of the EEA
- To strengthen the working relationship between constitutional bodies and civil society in raising awareness about South Africa’s compliance with international instruments, and support and capacity interventions provided in this regard.
A media statement will be released upon conclusion of the hearing, to sensitise the public through the media on emerging issues. Following the conclusion of a similar hearing being conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, an opinion piece will be released, to inform the public of overall findings and recommendations.
Some of the companies and departments that have heeded this call in the North-West Province include:
- South African Police Service
- Department of Education
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
- Ethekwini Municipality
- Engen
- Transnet
- Unilever
RSVP & enquiries:
Javu Baloyi
CGE Spokesperson
Cell: 083 579 3306
E-mail: javu@cge.org.za
