Johannesburg - The government will get tough on companies who do not comply with affirmative action and broad-based black economic empowerment laws, Labour director-genera Jimmy Manyi warned on Thursday.

Speaking at a branch meeting of the Sandton ANC Youth League, Manyi said his department was planning to introduce a clause into the BEE act, which would allow government to terminate or refuse contracts of companies that do not comply with the law by June next year.

"When you are breaking the law, something has to happen," said Manyi.

"Not just discussions as we have now, and asking them to comply. This nicey, nicey, nicey (attitude) must stop."

Manyi said companies who did not comply to the laws would be singled out and "named and shamed".

He said it was his job as the DG of Labour to ensure that this happened.

"I do this part with the greatest of passion, so if your company is not complying, something is going to happen to you," he said.

He was careful to explain that employment equity and affirmative action was not an "anti-white" policy.

"White people might be the group that gets the most advantage out of it," he said.

- Sapa