The Durban Labour Court will on Wednesday hand down two separate
judgements against Newcastle-based textile firms charged with violating
provisions of the Employment Equity Act.
In what could mark the first ever successful prosecution of its kind
under South Africa?s equity legislation, the two companies, Jinghua
Garments and Wincool Industrial are facing fines of up to R500 000 if
found guilty.
The companies face charges of failing to comply with Sections 20 and
21 of the Employment Equity Act which require employers to display the
Summary of the Act on their notice boards, and oblige them to send
their equity plans to the Department respectively.
The Court postponed the two cases on 19 April after they had
been referred to it last year following a bust during a series of blitz
inspections by Labour Department officials in the Newcastle area.
The Labour Department has reiterated its confidence that judgement
against the two would send a strong warning to others about the
government?s 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 government?s seriousness about transforming the
workplace.
?Employment equity is not about to be scrapped and it is time we
live with that fact,? the Minister said.
