Department of Employment and Labour | 27 January 2023
South Africa remains the most unequal country in the world – says Employment and Labour Inspector-General, Moiloa
There is very little to show in terms of transformation in the workplace in South Africa even after 24 years the country entered into democracy.
This is according to the Department of Employment and labour Deputy Director-General Inspection and Enforcement Service, Ms Aggy Moiloa.
Ms Moiloa was delivering a keynote address during the Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Equity Breakfast Session at the Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton, Gauteng today (27 January 2023).
The purpose of the Breakfast Session, themed: “It begins with the will, desire and a decision to commit to transformation”, was meant to debrief and inform various stakeholders such as the employers and employment consultancy on the following:
Overview of Employment Equity and Transformation of Workplaces 2021/22 Financial Year.
Status of Compliance with Employment Equity
Employment Equity Amendment Bill 2018
And included an open discussion in relevant matters with concerned stakeholders in the programme
“Unfortunately 24 years later (since the enactment of the Employment Equity Act in 1998) EEA, when it comes to the area of employment equity, we have got very little to show in terms of transformation. All of us by choice or by default can be an activist for transformation. Our slight posture as a country, it surely really its ugly head even in the instance of pioneering and driving transformation,” said Ms Moiloa.
Ms Moiloa said compliance levels with EEA remains regretfully low and said that the low levels of compliance frustrate the intention of policy interventions.
“So the issue of non-compliance with the Employment Equity cushions and sustains unpalatable tendencies. South Africa remains the most unequal country in the world. Discrimination runs too deep. Transformation leaves a lot to be desired. The level of compliance is even more unacceptable,” Ms Moiloa.
Ms Moiloa said in the 2021 to 2022 financial year, the level of non-compliance in terms of the Employment Equity is at six percent of compliance and 96 percent for non-compliance.
The Breakfast Session was also attended by other speakers such as the Chairperson of the Commission for Employment Equity, Ms Tabea Kabinde, who presented on the 21st Employment Equity Report; Mr Mxolisi Yabo, Deputy Director: Statutory Services presented on the Employment Equity Amendment Bill 2018 and Advocate Fikiswa Bede, Chief Director: Advocacy Stakeholder Relations – who shared the status of compliance with Employment Equity by employers in the country.
Ms Bede told attendees that 860 inspections on Employment Equity have been conducted across the country from April to December 2022. However, only 12 employers were found to be compliant and 848 were found to be non-compliant.
“So, the levels of non-compliance really frustrate the intention of policy intervention which seeks to achieve transformation in the labour market and we have not seen it even if you check the Employment Equity Report,” said Advocate Bede.
Ms Moiloa also said that the Department has also started inspections of the JSE Securities-listed companies in South Africa.
For more information, contact: Teboho Thejane Departmental Spokesperson Cell: 082 697 0694 E-mail: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za(link sends e-mail)
Department of Employment and Labour
‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’.