Association Of B-BBEE Professionals (ABP) | Department of Employment and Labour partners with CCMA in its Employment Equity advocacy workshops

Department of Employment and Labour partners with CCMA in its Employment Equity advocacy workshops

https://www.labour.gov.za/department-of-employment-and-labour-partners-with-ccma-in-its-employment-equity-advocacy-workshops

Department of Employment and Labour partners with CCMA in its Employment Equity advocacy workshops23 July 2024

In a quest to improve racial, gender and disability equality in the workplace, the Department of Employment and Labour in partnership with its long standing partner; the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) will start with their series of annual Employment Equity (EE) Roadshows next month.

The 2024 national roadshows follow the recent release of the 24th Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Annual Report on the status of equity in South Africa that shows that racial inequality continues unabated within the workplaces. The prevailing situation places a responsibility on policy makers to effect lasting changes.

The 24th CEE Annual Report released recently shows that the White population group, is grossly over-represented in terms of their Economically Active Population (EAP) across all sectors at the Top Management level followed by the Indian group. Africans and Coloured groups dominate the lower levels of workplace strata.

This year’s Employment Equity workshops will be held under the theme: “Bridging the Equity Gap Through Diversity & Inclusion”.

Building on last year’s subject themes, this year’s EE workshops will focus on:

·         The EE status of the labour market as per 24th 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.

This year marks 26 years since the enactment of Employment Equity Act (EEA) of 1998. The legislation was introduced to address the racial, gender and disability segregation situation in workplaces and allow those who are competent an opportunity to prosper.

In 2023 President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the amended Employment Equity Act. However, the EE amendments are yet to be implemented as the legislation is awaiting the signing of a proclamation date.

The Amendments to the EE Act of 1998 and its Regulations are primarily aimed at empowering the Minister of Employment and Labour to regulate the setting of sector specific EE numerical targets and the promulgation of Section 53 that deals with the issuing of an EE Compliance Certificate as a prerequisite for accessing state contracts.

The national series of workshops/roadshows start on 06 August 2024 ending on 18 September 2024.

The 2024 programme of workshops is as follows:

North West

·         Klerksdorp (06 August 2024) – (Rio Hotel Casino – Rio Boulevard, Freemanville)

·         Rustenburg (07 August 2024) – (Orion Hotel – 115 Hagia Sophia Drive, Kloof)

Northern Cape

·         Upington (13 August 2024) – (Aloe Guest Manor – 19 Built St, Die Rand)

·         Kimberley (15 July 2024) – (Savoy Hotel – 19 Old De Beers Road, City Centre)

Free State

·         Bloemfontein (13 August 2023) – (Bon Hotel – Bloem Plaza, East Burger Street)

Limpopo  

·         Thohoyandou (20 August 2024) – (To be confirmed [TBC])

·         Polokwane (21 August 2024) – (TBC)

KwaZulu-Natal

  • Pietermaritzburg (27 August 2024) – (TBC)
  • Durban (28 August 2023) – (TBC)

Mpumalanga

·         Nelspruit (27 August 2024) – (TBC)

·         Witbank (Emalahleni) – (28 August 2024) – (TBC)  

Western Cape

  • Saldanha Bay (03 September 2024) – (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 will be held from 10:00 to 14:00 in the respective venues and members of the media are invited.

More information on the EE workshops, including updates on the venues to be used, will be available on department’s and the CCMA’s social media platform as well as the Department’s website: www.labour.gov.za

For media enquiries, contact

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694

Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za