Employment Equity Amendment Bill [B31B-2012]

The Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises you to send your written comments on the Employment Equity Amendment Bill [B31B-2012]

The Bill amends the Employment Equity Act, 1998, so as to:
▪ substitute or amend certain definitions;
▪ further regulate the prohibition of unfair discrimination against employees;
▪ further regulate the certification of psychometric testing used to assess employees;
▪ provide for the referral of certain disputes for arbitration to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration;
▪ to make further provision regarding the evidentiary burden of proof in allegations of unfair discrimination;
▪ further regulate the preparation and implementation of employment equity plans and the submission of reports by designated employers to the Director-General;
▪ further regulate undertakings by designated employers to comply with requests by labour inspectors;
▪ further regulate the issuing of compliance orders;
▪ to provide afresh for the assessment of compliance by designated employers with employment equity and the failure of those employers to comply with requests and recommendations made by the Director-General;
▪ extend the powers of commissioners in arbitration proceedings;
▪ provide that fines payable in terms of the Act must be paid into the National Revenue Fund;
▪ extend the Minister's power to issue a code of good practice and to delegate certain powers;
▪ increase and provide for the increase by the Minister of certain fines which may be imposed under the Act;
▪ amend and to provide for the amendment by the Minister of annual turnover thresholds applicable to designated employers.

Comments can be emailed to Ms Phumelele Sibisi at [email protected] and Mrs Claudine Adams at [email protected] by no later than Friday, 8 November 2013.

Enquiries can be directed to Ms Phumelele Sibisi on tel (021) 403 3660 or cell 083 709 8449 and Mrs Claudine Adams on tel (021) 403 3027

Issued by Mrs MP Themba, MP, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises