What the Employment Equity Act amendments mean for employers

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Advocate Tertius Wessels from Strata-G Labour Solutions breaks down the five most notable changes in the amendment bill and should they pass in their current form, what it means to employers:

Redefining designated employers

Employers who employ fewer than 50 employees, regardless of their turnover, will no longer fall within the definition of the designated employer. Currently, one is a designated employer, depending on the number of employees they have or what their annual turnover is.

This means, that many employers, especially Small to Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), will not be required to comply with certain provisions of the Act that specifically deal with affirmative action measures. What will still be required, however, is employment equity reporting, and making voluntary affirmative action obsolete.

Sector-specific numerical targets

The amendment bill also seeks to introduce certain sector-specific numerical targets, so if the Employment Equity Amendment Bill in its current form comes into play, it will give the Minister the power to identify national economic targets and determine numerical goals for specific industries or sectors. It will require the Minister to consult with the Employment Equity Commission on what those proposed sector targets should be and publish them for commentary.

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The aim behind the introduction of sectorial targets is to force employers in specific sectors to look at affirmative action because as a designated employer that wishes to engage in government tenders, you will only be considered if your organisation meets the sectorial objectives set by the Minister of Employment and Labour. The amendment bill requires that a certificate gets issued to employers confirming their compliance with Employment Equity Act.

Redefining people with disabilities

The classification of people with disabilities will also be amended to align it to the definition of the United Nations. The new definition will include people who have long term or recurring, physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in the interaction with various barriers, may substantially limit their prospects of entry into advancement employment. Currently, under the Employment Equity Act, a disability must be permanent but with the newly proposed amendments, any recurring condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities in executing their tasks will now also be considered.

Psychological testing

Currently, professions that use psychological testing must have that test certified by the Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The new amendments propose doing away with requiring psychological testing or similar assessment of employees to be certified by the HPCSA. Psychological testing comes into play for pre-employment checks and screening, ensuring employers have an objective tool for pairing up a prospective employee with the relevant duties that come with their role.

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Trade unions and consultations proposal

Under the current Act, designated employers must consult with employees concerning the implementation of Employment Equity Plans or Employment Equity Reporting. But the amendments proposed in the bill state that designated employers must now consult with trade unions and not employees. This becomes an issue for unorganised employees who may be left out of Employment Equity Committees and this exclusion can constitute discrimination.

“It is worth noting that some of these amendments may not make it into the final bill in their current form. But the proposed changes are aimed at moving away from the tick box approach to ensure previously marginalised groups are included in the employment paradigm. The whole issue about the targets will be a matter for litigation going forward, especially as most industries are still reeling from the pandemic and meeting pre-Covid-19 Employment Equity goals might prove challenging for most organisations. The amendments cannot be a one size fits all either, they need to factor in the various socio-economic landscapes each industry operate under and applied effectively,” concludes Wessels.