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The Department of Employment and Labor will amend and enact changes around South African employment equity regulations to address issues related to equal opportunity and inclusion.
Introducing the department’s annual strategic plan to parliament on Thursday (May 7), the director-general for employment and labor, Thobile Lamati, said that includes a push for more transformational changes at the top levels of South African companies.
Citing the government’s 2018-2019 Employment Equity report, Lamati said black Africans currently make up 23.2% and 40.2% at the upper and middle management levels as reported by designated employers.
He said the government will now push for at least a 2% annual increase in the representation of black Africans at the senior and middle manager levels.
He added that the Labor Department plans to set sectoral targets to bring this to at least 50% in the next five years (2024).
Lamati said the department also plans to amend the existing Employment Equity Act to help it meet these transformation goals within the same time frame.
In July 2019, Labor Minister Thulas Nxesi announced an amendment bill that will regulate the establishment of sector-specific employment targets to address gross underrepresentation of blacks, women and people with disabilities.
It will also ensure that a certificate of compliance with labor equity becomes a precondition for access to state contracts.
A draft version of the bill. published At the end of 2018, he indicated that changes were being made to accelerate transformation in the country.
The cabinet approved the submission from the bill to parliament in February.
“The amendments will empower the Minister of Employment and Labor, in consultation with industry stakeholders, to introduce enabling provisions for the establishment of sector-specific numerical employment equity targets,” the cabinet said at the time.
“It also reduces the regulatory burden on small employers. The bill promotes equality of opportunity and fair treatment in employment by eliminating unfair discrimination. “
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