This, as the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) and the Minister of Labour, Thulas Nxesi, are this afternoon expected to present a report on the status of workplace transformation. The report titled “Transformation does make business sense” is said by the department to reflect on the current status of employment equity in South Africa and how far the country has progressed in its workplace transformation endeavours.

Previous reports have highlighted gender disparities and the slow pace of transformation, especially at senior management levels. It has been reported that a number of executive positions across different sectors are still white-male predominant. The report set to be released by Nxesi and CEE chairperson, Tabea Kabinde, will come on the back of Stats SA’s second quarterly labour force survey, which indicated that the country’s unemployment had reached 29% and considered worse than in 2008.

The report by Stats SA indicated that the Eastern Cape recorded the highest unemployment rate at 35.4%, while the North West recorded the highest expanded unemployment at almost 50%. The 46.6% recorded in this platinum province included those who have long been seeking employment and has given up.

The Department of Employment and Labour has meanwhile stated that the transformation report will also “highlight the extent to which companies have complied with the Employment Equity Act, the achievement of the objectives of meaningful workplace transformation in South Africa, the make-up of workplace demographics, the representation of the disadvantaged in managerial positions, and that of persons with disabilities”.

OFM News