Workplace transformation is in slow motion, laments minister

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has expressed concern on the slow pace of transformation in South Africa’s workplace, saying drastic measures needed to be taken to speed up change.

She was speaking after the release of the 11th Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Annual Report, which showed that whites (particularly males) were still dominating top management level positions.

Oliphant said it was disturbing to note that while black people accounted for approximately 86% of the employees covered in the latest reports analysed, they only accounted for 16.9% at top management level and 32.9% at senior management level.

In 2010, 18 534 reports were received by the CEE and 16 698 reports were analysed, covering more than 5.2 million employees.

Oliphant said opportunities that arose as a result of staff movement in top and senior management levels continued to benefit the same groups who are over-represented at those levels.

“The data presented paints a bleak picture for Africans, coloureds, in particular African women and people with disabilities, whose representation stands at 0.8%,” she said.

The report shows that in terms of the Economically Active Population (EAP) in the country, Africans account for more than 77%, while coloureds account for 11%, with Indians at more than 3% and whites at more than 12%. CEE chairperson Mpho Nkeli said the report was disappointing, adding that there was a need for harsher penalties to be imposed on companies not adhering to employment equity law.

“There is a need to deal with discrimination at workplaces,” she said.

However, Nkeli acknowledged that there has been a better understanding of employment equity by companies. She echoed the sentiments that harsher penalties should be imposed on all those who do not comply with the law.

Nkeli said blacks should be afforded an opportunity to gain experience at top level management. “No one is born with experience,” she noted.

Companies with less than 150 employees were not required to submit employment reports.

The reports covered sectors that include retail and motor trade, and community/social/personal services, among others. Although the Commission did not receive reports from all companies, it said it was still expecting them.

Nkeli said she was disappointed on the low numbers representing people with disabilities, saying that must change.

According to the Commission, whites made up 73.1% of top management, blacks 12.7%, Indians 6.8% and coloureds 4.6%.

Source: BuaNews