Employment Equity Amendment Act proclamation is premature
30 July 2014
A recent proclamation from the Presidency reveals that the provisions of the Employment Equity Amendment Act are set to come into operation as of 1 August this year.
This announcement is completely premature. Indeed, the Department pronounced that it was considering the withdrawal of the draft regulations, which were gazetted following the signing into law of the amendment bill, due to substantial opposition received from public submissions.
Given this announcement, it is surprising that the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, would rush the implementation of the Act without further public consultation and finalisation of the Act's regulations.
The DA will therefore urgently write to the Minister to request clarity on the status of these draft regulations, and whether she has not properly applied her mind to all submissions - including those from the DA and the Western Cape Provincial Government.