National Workshops Begin: Employment and Labour on Employment Equity

The Department of Employment and Labour has partnered with the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to host national workshops on the recently promulgated amendments to the Employment Equity Act of 1998. These amendments empower the Minister of Employment and Labour to set sector-specific equity numerical targets and require compliance certificates as a prerequisite for accessing state contracts.

Real Transformation Makes Business Sense

The workshops are focused on the theme “Real transformation makes business sense” and aim to create awareness on the updated regulations and sector targets while addressing the impact on the labour market. The Employment Equity Act of 1998 was designed to protect employees from unfair discrimination, particularly with respect to unequal terms and conditions of employment.

Slow Progress in Achieving Equitable Representation

Despite the Act’s intentions, the South African labour market remains racialised and gendered. The 23rd Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Annual Report highlights the slow progress in achieving equitable representation of employees from economically disadvantaged groups in the workplace.

Employment Equity Roadshows

To address these issues, the Department of Employment and Labour, along with CCMA, will be conducting 2023 Employment Equity Roadshows in the form of national workshops across the country. These events will run from 18 July to 29 August 2023, with sessions taking place in various provinces, including Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Free State.

Targeting a Broad Range of Stakeholders

The workshops will target a broad range of stakeholders, including employers, heads of organisations, academics, assigned senior managers, consultative forum members, human resource practitioners, trade unions, employees, and other interested parties. The media is also invited to attend the sessions, which will run from 10:00 am to 14:00 pm and cover all provinces.

Demonstrations and Updates

The workshops will provide demonstrations of the online employment equity system, incorporating the recent amendments and generating certificates of compliance. They will also showcase CCMA’s case law on employment equity and provide updates on the CEE Annual Report launch outcomes.

Accessing Further Information

Further information on the workshops, including updates on schedules and venues, will be available on the Department of Employment and Labour’s social media platforms and official website, www.labour.gov.za.

Fostering Real Transformation

These workshops represent an essential step towards raising awareness of the new employment equity amendments and their potential impact on the South African labour market. However, the collaborative efforts of the Department of Employment and Labour and the CCMA demonstrate a commitment to fostering real transformation and promoting a more equitable work environment for all. It remains to be seen how effective these changes will be in addressing the ongoing challenges of racial and gender inequality in the workplace.