The employment landscape for persons with disabilities (PWD) has seen minimal progress in recent years, leading to a call for action from the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) to urge employers to consider hiring more people with disabilities.
The Need for Greater Transformation
CEE Chairperson, Tabea Kabinde, emphasized the need for greater transformation in the workplace, particularly for PWDs, during the Employment Equity roadshow at Diep in die Berg Conference Centre in Pretoria. Of the 27,532 reports received by the CEE, covering over 7.2 million employees, a mere 1.2% were persons with disabilities. In response, Kabinde proposed a target of 2% for employing PWDs.
Demanding Demonstrable Commitment
While some employers have made efforts to hire PWDs, the vast majority have not gone beyond the 1.2% mark. Kabinde called for a demonstrable commitment from employers to hire individuals with disabilities, reminding attendees that anyone could potentially acquire a disability through accidents or illnesses.
Addressing Misconceptions Regarding Sector Targets
Kabinde clarified that the term “Economically Active Population” (EAP) refers specifically to those who are working, seeking work, or employable. Consequently, it is not justifiable for a group with a smaller EAP to hold the majority of top management positions while larger EAP groups remain underrepresented. Kabinde urged employers to hire suitably qualified individuals for such positions.
Employment Equity Roadshows
The Department of Employment and Labour, in collaboration with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), organized the Employment Equity Roadshows under the theme “Real transformation makes business sense.” The primary objectives of these workshops are to raise awareness of recently promulgated EE amendments, sector targets, and regulations, as well as to address the impact of employment equity in the labour market.
Objectives of the Workshops
Participants also receive an overview of the 23rd CEE Annual Report and demonstrations of the online EE system and compliance certificates. Furthermore, a CCMA Commissioner presents case law related to Employment Equity. The national series of workshops, which started on July 18, will conclude on August 29, 2023.
Participation and Target Audience
These workshops target employers, heads of organizations, academics, assigned senior managers, consultative forum members, human resource practitioners, trade unions, employees, and other interested stakeholders. Members of the media are invited to attend the events, which run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm across all provinces.
The CEE’s call to action highlights the need for employers to be more proactive in hiring people with disabilities. Through initiatives such as Employment Equity Roadshows and collaborations with other organizations, awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by PWDs in the workplace can be increased. In turn, this may lead to the realization that real transformation, especially in the hiring of PWDs, does indeed make business sense.
