employers
12 April 2006
The governmentâs crackdown on employment equity flouting companies will come
under a sharp spotlight when the Durban Labour Court hands down judgment in two
separate cases involving textile manufacturers on Wednesday, 19 April.
In what could mark the first ever successful prosecution of its kind under
South Africaâs equity legislation, two KwaZulu-Natal companies, Jinghua
Garments and Wincool Industrial will finally know their fate after few
appearances on charges of violating sections of the Employment Equity Act.
The two cases against the companies were referred to the Labour Court last
year following a series of blitz inspections by Labour Department officials in
the Newcastle area.
The companies face charges of failing to comply with Sections 20 and 21 of
the equity law, which compel employers to display the law on their notice
boards, and require them to send their equity plans to the Department
respectively.
The Labour Department has often expressed confidence that judgment against
the two would send a strong warning to others about the governmentâs
intolerance of employers who deliberately flout the law.
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said the prosecutions will go a
long way towards demonstrating to both private and public sector employers the
governmentâs seriousness about transforming the workplace.
âEmployment equity is not about to be scrapped and it is time we live with
that fact,â the Minister said.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
12 April 2006
