Employers planning to file their Employment Equity reports manually have two weeks to do so to beat the deadline, stakeholders were told in Welkom and Port Elizabeth today, 15 September 2011.
This follows the Department of Labour’s (DoL) roadshows currently under way and taking forward the 11th Commission on Employment Equity (EE) report recently launched by labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant, and to solicit stakeholders’ views about the draft revised code of good practice on HIV and AIDS in the world of work.
Presenters said employers should have plans that show as to how they intend to transform their workplaces.
Richard Cornelson, DoL manager in the Free State said, “The Act is quiet clear that whenever you start equity plan you should involve employees from day one instead of relying on outside consultants.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape, the roadshow went on an overdrive where the International Labour Organisation (ILO) called on employers to recognise that HIV and AIDS is a workplace disease that has a potential to become a problem to core business. The ILO Director of HIV and AIDS Focal Point, Simphiwe Mabhele told the seminar that HIV and AIDS was an occupational disease that affects large, small and domestic employers
Mabhele also called on employers to make input in the crafting of a new balanced code of good practice on HIV and AIDS in South Africa. He said the effect of HIV could be reversed through a tripartite alliance made of government, business and civil society. He also said that the existing code contains fifteen elements and these have been narrowed to eight.
“The new draft code is written in simple terminology and is also wide in scope. It caters for people before they are employed, during employment and post employment,” he continued.
Some of the key elements in the revised draft code cover: grievance procedure; termination of employment; focus on prevention; treatment, care and support; occupational health and safety; children and young persons; strategies to assess and respond to HIV and AIDS in the workplace; and monitoring plus evaluation.
In terms of timelines- a new draft code on HIV and AIDS was gazetted on 8 September and the closing date for inputs is 8 October. A task team is expected to meet from 7 October to look into comments and integrate them into a new draft. The new draft on HIV and AIDS is expected to be finalised and adopted in December 2011.
Deputy Director Inspection and Enforcement in the Eastern Cape, Livingston Matiwane cautioned employers not to consider delaying their submissions, “Until the last week from the closing date. When you submit at the last minute this will clog the system and there is nothing we can do to help.”
Meanwhile, the EE roadshow has been held in Northern Cape, Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga, Free State, and Eastern Cape and will continue in other provinces culminating in Gauteng on 23 September.
The presenters also told the seminar that those employers who miss the reporting deadline will be excluded from the public register.
The register entitles companies that have reported to a good name as it shows that they have complied or are in the process of complying. It also helps those applying for tenders.
Those who need more information or assistance on EE report submissions can contact niresh.singh@labour.gov.za, phaphama.ntsenge@labour.gov.za or camellia.pellie@labour.gov.za .
Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 082 806 1351
E-mail: Wisane.mavasa@labour.gov.za
Ziphozihle Klaas
Cell: 078 225 2086
E-mail: ziphozihle.klaas@labour.gov.za
