Pretoria - An amendment to the Employment Equality Act to penalise
companies not abiding by racial diversification in the workplace
was recommended to the Labour Department on Monday.
The government's approach of persuasion was not having the
desired effect and black and coloured people were bearing the brunt
of it, Commission for Employment Equity chair Jimmy Manyi told
journalists in Pretoria, at the release of the body's 2008/09
report.
While progress was taking place, it was at a slow pace. Out of
the over 100 Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed companies randomly
selected for evaluation, there were "no shining examples".
There was a "shortage of recognition of black people as
competent". This was also the case for people with disabilities.
The government's response to non-compliance to the act was one
of persuasion and they were given time to correct disproportional
representation.
"There are going to be a lot more prosecutions now going on.
Those who are not playing ball we will name and shame."
Fines for non-compliance also needed to be reconsidered as they
currently amounted to "petty cash". Manyi said the amounts needed
to be escalated to 10% of a company's turnover, which was
similar to penalties handed down by the Competition Commission.
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said the figures showed a
"disturbing trend" and agreed that prosecution in the Labour Court
should be enforced immediately.
"Unfortunately there are people you have to drag to heaven
because they are heading for danger."
Mdladlana said the longer it took to implement employment equity
in the workplace, the more negative the impact on growth and
stability of democracy.
Calls to remove legislation that dealt with the lack of racial
diversity - a legacy of apartheid - was tantamount to "throwing
away the Constitution".
He said previously disadvantaged people would soon get
frustrated with extending an olive branch.
"Comply with the law instead of manufacturing a revolution that
is not going to take us anywhere," he said referring to apartheid
uprisings.
"You better touch our hand whilst we are still giving it," he
said.
"I want to warn them that the revolution will be a revolution of
all black people.
"I am as angry as I was. I have not calmed down a bit. If we
want to unite the people of this country this is the route to go,"
he said.
The report showed that white men represented 61% of top
management level, enjoyed 48% of all recruitment and made up
44.7 percent of all employees promoted to this level.
At the top management level black men represented 9.8%,
enjoyed 12.6% of all recruitment and made up 12.7% of
all employees promoted to this level.
Representation of people with disabilities at all levels and in
both private and public sectors dropped from one percent over the
previous years to 0.7%.
- Sapa