We live in one of the most diverse countries, culturally, racially, and economically. Therefore, it is expected from each designated employer to draft, outline and implement an Employment Equity Plan.
Employment Equity is the law that promotes equity in the workplace, through achieving equality, by eliminating unfair discrimination and implementing transformation, as well as keeping in mind that all candidates need to be suitably qualified according to the inherent requirements of the job.
When is an employer seen as “designated”? When the company employs more than 50 employees or the total annual turnover is equal to, or more than the industry threshold.
Every designated employer has duties to abide by, in order to achieve employment equity.
These duties include;
- Consult and communicate with their workers;
- Assign and appoint an Employment Equity Manager;
- Establish an Employment Equity Committee;
- Conduct an Analysis;
- Prepare an Employment Equity Plan;
- Reporting.
As the employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that the company’s EEA documentation is being implemented. What does the EEA intake?
- Having objectives in place for each year;
- Making sure that affirmative action takes place;
- Achieving equitable representation with numerical goals;
- Using a timetable;
- Monitoring and evaluation procedures should be in place;
- Ultimately, identifying the employees that will monitor and implement the plan.
In the implementation phase of Employment Equity, the Department of Labour is concerned with a few documents. These documents are seen as the Code of Good Practice, which aligns with the Employment Equity Act.
SEESA has always been committed to providing ongoing quality service to all our clients. Our team of Skills Development Facilitators will advise and assist your business in making sure the correct drafting procedures take place.
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About the Author:
Ruan Koortzen started his career at SEESA in 2019 and is currently a Skills Development Facilitator at SEESA’s Pretoria branch. He graduated from the IIE Varsity College in 2017, with a BCom Strategic Management Degree.