Employment Equity no barrier to job creation - Department of Labour
Employment Equity (EE) in the workplaces is regressing at an "alarming" rate more than 20 years into democracy.
Department of Labour Chief Director: Provincial Operations (Gauteng), Kenny Fick told stakeholders today that more than 20 years of democracy those hitherto who were discriminated against are still marginalised. Fick said this picture is more pronounced with groupings such as women and the disabled.
He was addressing the opening of the department's employment equity workshop held today at the Emperors Palace next to O.R Tambo International Airport. Fick told stakeholders that, while there seems to be advances in the promotion of employment equity on the one hand, there seems to be regression in other areas.
"Even in government we are not doing well. As a country we need to seriously reflect on this regression," Fick said commitment to successful implementation of EE seems to be lacking.
Fick said there was need to dispel the notion that EE was a barrier to employment creation. He said EE was about taking decisions that would make and grow profitable organisations.
"EE is not about unions gaining lost ground and making demands. Nor is it about employers taking positions," cautioned Fick. He committed the department to ensuring that that compliance to EE legislation becomes less laborious. He said the economy was in need of a new beginning, in which all economic players make a meaningful contribution.
The Department of Labour's annual Employment Equity national roadshows to promote compliance with EE legislation conclude tomorrow (September 8) with a presentation in Witbank (Emalahleni) at the Protea Hotel Witbank (167 Jellicoe Street).
The 2015 EE roadshows are held under the theme: “Transformation - makes business sense”.
The objectives of the roadshows is to:
- To publicise the Code of Good Practice on Equal Pay/Remuneration for Work of Equal Value;
- To publicise the regulated employment equity templates (EE Analysis-EEA12 & EE Plan-EEA13); and
- To encourage designated employers to submit EE Reports On-Line.
The EE roadshows started in Rustenburg on 13 August 2015. To date EE briefing sessions have also been held in Kimberley; Polokwane; Bloemfontein; Durban; Port Elizabeth; and Cape Town.
The EE roadshows will conclude tomorrow (September 8) in Witbank (Emalahleni) at the Protea Hotel Witbank (167 Jellicoe Street).
Employers (companies, government departments etc.) are by law obliged to submit annually to the Department of Labour of their employment equity reports in regard to demographic profile, representation in the organisations and EE plans to address discrimination and inequity in the workplace.
The roadshows are targeted at employers or heads of organisations, academics, consultative forum members, human resource executives and practitioners; assigned Senior EE Managers/Transformation Managers, trade unions and employees among others.
The amended EE ACT of 2013 was assented in January 2014.
Ronel de Wet, Commissioner of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) disclosed during the EE roadshow that 2500 cases have been referred to it relating to unfair discrimination since the amended Act into force in 2014.
Some of the leading cases relate to discrimination on arbitrary grounds, dispute over equal pay for work of equal value and sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, the EE reporting season opened on 1 September 2015 for both manual and online reporting. Manual reporting submissions close on 1 October 2015. Online reporting will close on 15 January 2016.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
