The Department is perturbed by the way the DA has maliciously interpreted the proposed sector EE targets published for public comment. It appears as though that the DA is using the same tactics of “divide and rule” adopted during the Apartheid regime, particularly in order to divide the black people of South Africa.
The purpose of the EE Act, as amended, is to achieve equity in the workplace by promoting equal opportunities and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination; and the implementation of affirmative action measures to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups (i.e. Black people, women and persons with disabilities) to ensure their equitable representation in all occupational levels in the workforce.
For sustainable growth and development, it is important that workplaces reasonably reflect the national and provincial demographics of the economically active population of the country, both in the public and the private sectors as required by section 42 of the EE Act.
In fact, nothing has changed, these EE amendments are not introducing any new legal obligations on employers because for over 24 years of the EE Act, employers have been legally required to set their own EE targets taking into account both the national and provincial EAP demographics as per section 42 of the EE Act.
The only change with these amendments is that the Minister of Employment and Labour after consultation with the relevant sector stakeholders and on the advice of the Commission for Employment Equity, has now regulated sector EE targets in a form of 5-year milestones towards achieving the equitable representation of the various groups in respective economic sectors.
Nevertheless, sector EE targets are not quotas as employers still maintain powers to determine their own annual EE targets towards achieving the regulated 5-year sector EE targets. For those employers that have surpassed the regulated minimum targets proposed per sector, are encouraged to still be proactive in setting EE targets towards achieving the demographics of the EAP.
We are not surprised that the DA and the Solidarity Trade Union are opposed to the EE amendments and sector EE targets because they tend to be against any legislation, policy or efforts to transform the economic landscape of the country. They constantly refer the efforts of levelling the playing fields for all, as reverse apartheid. The EE amendment Act is about equal opportunities in the workplace. The DA’s response attempts to entrench the inequalities of the past.
For more information, contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail :Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
