South Africa's Compliance to employment equity (EE) is hovering at 50 percent, “but we can do better", so said Steven Gounden, Department of Employment and Labour Director: EE.

Gounden said: “the Department has observed that there was a disconnection between what is reported and what is happening in the workplaces. By ensuring compliance with the EE Act, the Inspection and Enforcement Services branch (IES) contributes to creating more representative and inclusive workplaces."

The Director was speaking today (January 31) during the Department of Employment and Labour's breakfast advocacy session with stakeholders held at Maharani Hotel in Durban. The session was attended by executives of companies, union representatives, academics, and government departments.

The session was held under the theme: “Transformation starts in the mind".

He said the Department was open to work together with employers to transform the labour market. He appealed to employers to further their reach in search for eligible candidates when recruiting. He said progress in implementing EE was hampered by a lack of effective equity plans. Gounden said effective transformation involves “how we move the unskilled to skilled and professional status".

According to Gounden, EE should not be a tick box exercise. He further said that there was a need for a concerted effort from employers to adhere to EE Act.

However, he said: “we do not want to be seen to be wielding the stick". He said although the Department does not have enough inspectors to enforce compliance with EE, the department will by all means continue to monitor and enforce compliance.

“The overall goal is to create more equitable and inclusive labour market. In our endeavour to ensure transformation we will continue to use technology and innovative measures while learning from the best in the world," Gounden said. 

Aggy Moiloa, Department's Inspector General threw a challenge to employers to play an active role in achieving equity in their work spaces.

Moiloa said: “the story of EE is a sad one. It sounds like horror movie. Equity continues to elude us. If the past reports of CEE are anything to go by – we still have a long way to go. We need to comply because it is the right thing to do. Let compliance not be a malicious exercise. We should not transform because government says so".

She appealed to employers to partner with the Department and play a positive role in changing the face of labour market in the country, no matter how small.

Meanwhile, the Department's EE Directorate has announced that it will re-publish the Regulations for Sector Targets next week, in which it will give stakeholders 90 days for comment. This is being done so ahead of the signing of the effective date of implementation of the amended EE Act.

For more information, contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694 

Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za

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Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour​

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