The levels of workplace transformation in South Africa paint a disappointing picture, Innocent Makwarela, Department of Employment and Labour Deputy Director: Employment Equity (EE) told an EE workshop.

Makwarela was speaking at an EE workshop following the release of the recent 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 whereas, 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 this occupational level. Disturbing also was that the representation of Foreign Nationals remained relatively high at 3.0% at this occupational level.

The report captures the representation of various racial groups from Top Management, Senior Management, Professionally qualified, Skilled, Semi-skilled, and unskilled. It showed that while the White group dominates the top echelons followed by the Indian group, the Coloured and African groups dominate the lower levels in workplaces.

Makwarela said the representation of people with disability is even worse. He said: “We have even failed to achieve a Cabinet resolution of two percent".

The CEE report showed that the representation of employees with disabilities is at 1.2% of the total workforce in 2023. The report shows that the Private Sector (1.2%) is performing slightly better than Government (1.1%) concerning the employment of employees with disabilities in 2023.

Today's national EE workshop of the Department of Employment and Labour in partnership with the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was held at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane.

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 Limpopo's Acting Provincial Chief Inspector, Lucia Ramusi told the workshop that the annual event was part of advocacy to ensure compliance with EE Act. She said the EE Act was one of the legislation enforced by the Department through its Inspection and Enforcement Services.
  
   
  
   
  
  “The session today is intended to capacitate our stakeholders so that when we monitor compliance employers are not found wanting," Ramusi said.
  
   
  
  The national series of workshops/roadshows started in the North West at the beginning of August and will round off on 18 September 2024 in Pretoria.
  
   
  
  Simultaneous national EE roadshows/workshops continue next week on 27-28 August 2024 in KwaZulu-Natal Province (Pietermaritzburg Ascot Conference Centre 210 Woodhouse Road Scottsville & Durban Olive Convention Centre 81 Somtseu Road) and Mpumalanga Province (Mbombela Mercure Hotel Corner N4 & Grant Street, West Acres and Emalahleni Khayalami Hotel 29 Prinsberg Avenue, Highveld Park).
  
   
  
  Further information on EE roadshows can be found at the department's www@labour.gov.za website.
  
   
  
  More 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 to attend and cover.

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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