As South Africa commemorates Workers’ Day today, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has expressed concern at the slow pace of transformation in South Africa's workplace.
“This evident in the fact that 72 percent of positions in Top Executive level are still occupied by Whites and 80 percent by males,” she says.
“The same can be deduced at senior management levels where 62 percent of positions are held by Whites and 69 percent by males. The picture becomes even bleaker when one looks at the representation of people with disabilities, which is at 1.4 percent in 2012,” says the minister.
The 13th edition of the Employment Equity annual report which was released recently, showed that Blacks occupied 12.3 percent of top management positions in 2012, compared to 10 percent in 2002. While, Whites constituted 72.6 percent of top management positions in the country last year, down from 81.5 percent in 2002.
Coloureds occupied 4.6 percent of top management positions in 2012, compared to 3.4 percent in 2002; and In Indians 7.3 percent, from 5 percent.
The number of foreigners in top management positions in 2012 was 3.1 percent, compared to zero in 2002.
The report reflects the public and private sectors. A total of 23 312 reports were received and 22 012 were analysed for the 2012 reporting period.
When the report was released last month, Oliphant also expressed concern at the low levels of blacks occupying management positions, saying that this must change.
“The report gives a true reflection of the status of employment equity in the labour market as reported by over 22 012 designated employers covering over 6 million workers.
“At the same time, the report indicates that the provisions of the current legislation as it stands has not induced the much needed transformation in decision making positions and behavioural change in the decision makers in various organisations.
“This means that the current proposed amendments to the Employment Equity could not have come at a better time than now.
“It is 19 years after the dawn of democracy and 15 years since the enactment of the Employment Equity Act, but the progress made in terms of achieving the objectives of this Act or transforming the South African workplaces is at a snail pace,” she says.
The minister also expressed concern on the low levels of blacks occupying management positions.
“This requires commitment and mind-shift from the top executives of organisations to start seeing Employment Equity as a business imperative that needs to be integrated into their Strategic business plans. Employment Equity must not therefore, be treated as a side issue left solely to the HR Departments,” she urges.
In terms of transforming the labour market, Oliphant says the department is continuously monitoring the implementation of the Employment Equity.
“[We do this] by conducting workplace inspections and Director-General Reviews in order to enforce compliance with the requirements of the law. Thus far, there is noticeable positive impact in companies that have been reviewed, where some pockets of best practices in the implementation of the Act have been identified and also show-cased in the 13th CEE Annual Report.
“This clearly indicates that for transformation to take place in our workplaces, it requires commitment and mind-shift from the top Executives of organisations that are key decision makers.”
Regarding South Africa’s labour laws, the minister said the country’s labour laws meet the standard set by international Labour Organisation (ILO).
“South Africa has ratified all the fundamental Conventions of the International Labour organisation; in fact this country is one of the few that has ratified these conventions. Lastly our constitution guarantees basic rights for workers,” she explains. –SAnews.gov.za
