DA again objects to equity regulations

DA MP Kenneth Mubu. Picture : Phill Magakoe

DA MP Kenneth Mubu. Picture : Phill Magakoe

Published Mar 5, 2014

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Johannesburg - The DA has again called the new employment equity legislation “draconian” and “Verwoerdian”, just as it did when President Jacob Zuma assented to the Employment Equity Amendment Bill on January 14.

Kenneth Mubu, the DA’s labour spokesman, said yesterday that the new regulations appended to the bill, which were tabled in Parliament on Friday, would serve only to make the labour relations system more rigid and, in so doing, would undermine job creation and economic growth.

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant gazetted the regulations on Friday. The public has 30 days to submit comments.

The Labour Department said the invitation for comment was to augment the government’s commitment to promote equity and diversity in the workplace.

It said the key issues highlighted by the employment equity regulations were “the revised definition of designated groups, criteria and methodology for assessing work of equal value, guidelines for assessment of compliance using the national and regional economically active population and enforcement mechanisms”.

Mubu said: “The draconian regulations are the Zuma ANC’s attempt to bring back Verwoerdian-style population control and will have a devastating effect on job creation. At a time when South Africans should be working for change and jobs, the ANC is attempting to divide people and destroy jobs.”

The DA was divided over the bill when it went to the vote in Parliament, which raised doubts about its commitment to black economic empowerment and employment equity.

It first voted for the bill along with the ANC. It later backtracked and voted against it, with party leader Helen Zille apologising, saying the DA had been misled by its members on the labour portfolio committee.

A few days later, DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko wrote in The Star that the party supported employment equity that redressed the legacy of apartheid and expanded job opportunities.

But this could not be done at the cost of economic growth and job creation, she said. “Ultimately, a growing economy with increasing employment is the surest and most sustainable way to redress the legacy of apartheid.”

Mubu said that under the new regulations, companies employing more than 150 people would have to mirror the demographics of the national economically active population for appointments to top and senior management and to positions that required professional qualifications.

These companies would have to use an average of national and regional demographics as a guide when determining targets for skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled and technical positions.

“Instead of focusing on top-down quotas, the Department of Labour should be focused on building skills and capacity so that all previously disadvantaged South Africans can be genuinely empowered,” he said.

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