Share

Equity act 'won't affect coloureds'

Johannesburg - Changes to the Employment Equity Act should not result in coloured and Indian workers losing their jobs in some provinces, Business Day reported on Monday.

The amendment bill, which has not yet been published, is believed to leave the present regulatory regime much the same.

The amendments still need to be presented to cabinet for approval, but if approved would give the labour minister the power to produce regulations on the employment equity regulations.

According to the newspaper, this was after negotiations between business, labour, and the government on the proposed amendments to the act were finalised in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

Last year trade union Solidarity said about 1 million coloured people could lose their jobs if amendments to the Employment Equity Act become law.

The amendment that concerned the union was that employment equity should be based on national demographics.

This would have meant that in the Western Cape coloureds could lose jobs, while Indians would have been affected in KwaZulu-Natal.

But the amendments do not significantly change the current situation, where employers can choose to use national or regional demographic statistics to calculate their employment equity targets.

In expressing its concern over the proposed amendments last year, Solidarity posted a video on YouTube of government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi, who was then the director general of labour, saying there was an "over-supply" of coloured people in the Western Cape.

He made the comment in March 2010.

Manyi later said he had been speaking in his capacity as Black Management Forum president.

 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.97
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
24.13
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.63
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.38
+0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.13
+0.4%
Platinum
911.88
-1.3%
Palladium
1,019.74
-4.3%
Gold
2,159.99
-0.0%
Silver
25.11
+0.3%
Brent-ruolie
86.89
+1.8%
Top 40
66,252
0.0%
All Share
72,431
0.0%
Resource 10
53,317
0.0%
Industrial 25
100,473
0.0%
Financial 15
16,622
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders