JSE-listed companies targeted for employment equity – with court action threatened

The Department of Employment and Labour said its inspectorate would revisit JSE-listed companies between January and March to check their employment equity (EE) implementation progress.

Advocate Fikiswa Mncanca-Bede from the Department said the inspectors would be revising 30 companies as part of a follow-up.

Mncanca-Bede said in 2017, the Department announced it was visiting the JSE-listed companies as part of a Director-General (DG) Review project to test compliance with EE Act implementation.

An agreement was reached with them for the Department to come back and assess and review compliance.

“These companies submitted their plans, and it is time to test progress. Companies that fail the test will be taken directly to court,” she said.

“In our inspections, we are still finding companies that are failing to comply with the law.”

The Department said the purpose of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) of 1998 is to achieve equity in the workplace.

“It promotes equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination,” it said.

It also promotes the implementation of affirmative action to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups.

The Department said the Act ensures equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce.