PRESS RELEASE

 

29 June 2023

 

RACE-BASED EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

SOLIDARITY ‘SETTLEMENT’ AGREEMENT

 

The settlement agreement reached between the trade union Solidarity and Government, with regard to Government’s recent amendments to the Employment Equity Act and the accompanying draft regulations, has reconfirmed a nuanced approach in respect of employment equity “targets”.

 

This settlement agreement is the result of a complaint lodged by Solidarity at the International Labour Organization (ILO), a number of years ago. According to this agreement its content will form part of future regulations in this regard.

 

NEASA’s concern is that Government’s race-based ideology remains unaffected. This ‘settlement’ does not address the constitutional validity of Government’s overreach reflected in their bizarre regulations:

 

• • Government still has the ability to determine quotas (disguised as targets) for business;
• • business still has to consider race in appointments;
• • business still has to report on employment equity and justify all appointments not conforming to Government’s race-    based prescriptions; and
• • Government remains the only authority which determines compliance of an employer or whether justification for non-compliance is sufficient.
•  

It has been NEASA’s view all along that no business could dismiss an individual for purposes of reaching employment equity targets. This ‘settlement’ agreement confirms that position.

 

Even though NEASA is still considering the impact of this settlement on employers, NEASA reaffirms its commitment to oppose Government’s ill-conceived race-based laws on all fronts.

 

ISSUED BY

NEASA Media Department

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Yvonne Snyman

Media Liaison

NEASA

012 332 5350

media@neasa.co.za