Department of Employment and Labour Deputy Director: Employment Equity, Niresh Singh, said the Employment Equity (EE) Act is not only about affirmative action but also ensures the implementation of broader workplace equality. 

Singh said questions are advanced that EE is reverse racism. He said EE is about identifying opportunities and giving those who were historically excluded and who have the potential to be given a chance. Singh said South Africa needed to develop ways to increase the economic participation and development of more black-owned businesses.

“We need to put more resources into developing new businesses and also use preferential procurement to grow businesses. Our concern is also about what can be done to ensure workplaces are reflective of South African society. South Africans irrespective of gender or race should be employed on an equal footing," he said.

Singh was speaking during a Department of Employment and Labour EE workshop conducted in partnership with the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration at the Ascot Conference centre in Pietermaritzburg today. 

He was responding to the recent findings of the 24^th Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Annual report that showed that the White population group represented 62.1% and the Indian population group represented 11.6% of all positions at the Top Management level, which is significantly higher than their respective Economically Active Populations (EAPs).

The report said the African population group with an EAP of 80.7% accounted for only 17.2% and the Coloured population group with an EAP of 9% accounted for only 6.1% of all positions at the Top Management level. While the Foreign Nationals have a 3.0% representation at this occupational level.

The report showed that the African and Coloured groups dominate the lower levels in workplaces.

The Department's/CCMA 2024 Employment Equity workshops are held under the theme: “Bridging the Equity Gap Through Diversity & Inclusion".

This year's EE workshops focus on:

• The EE status of the labour market as per the 24^th CEE Annual Report;
• An update on the EE amendments, in particular, the proposed draft regulations on proposed sector EE targets;
• An update on the 2024 EE reporting season;
• Key insights from the CCMA on topical cases related to unfair discrimination in terms of harassment, disability, and discrimination based on arbitrary grounds.
  
   
  
  Department of Employment and Labour Provincial Chief Inspector (PCI) for KwaZulu-Natal, Mlungisi Zondi delivering an opening address told the Department's stakeholders that the workshop was about advocacy on the importance of EE Act and compliance with labour legislation.
  
   
  
  Zondi said employment equity was about the redress of inequities of the past.
  
   
  
  The next workshops will be held tomorrow (28 August) in Durban at Olive Convention Centre 81 Somtseu Road) and City of Emalahleni's Khayalami Hotel 29 Prinsberg Avenue, Highveld Park).
  
   
  
  Further information on EE roadshows can be found at the department's www@labour.gov.za website.
  
   
  
  The remaining workshops are expected to be held as follows:  
  
  Western Cape

• Saldanha Bay (03 September 2024) – (To be confirmed {TBC})  
• Cape Town (04 September 2024) – (TBC)

 Eastern Cape

• East London (10 September 2024) – (TBC)  
• Gqeberha (11 September 2024) – (TBC)

Gauteng

• Johannesburg (17 September 2024) – (TBC)
• Pretoria (18 September 2024) – (TBC)   

The EE workshops are targeted at Employers or Heads of organisations, Academics, Assigned Senior Managers, Consultative forum members, Human Resource Practitioners, Trade Unions, employees, and interested stakeholders.

These are held from 10:00 to 14:00 in the respective venues and members of the media are invited.                                                                                                                                                                             

For media inquiries, kindly contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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