Question NW3216 to the Minister of Employment and Labour
23 September 2022 - NW3216
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
(1)What steps is his department taking to lower the unemployment rate amongst women, especially young women, in view of the finding by Statistics South Africa that a woman is more likely to be without a job than a man and that the unemployment rate amongst women was 37,3%, compared to a total unemployment rate of 32,9% in the third quarter of 2021; (2) whether his department is taking any action towards integrating more women into the workspace; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department actively assists woman to help them to secure employment.
The table below reflects the number of work seekers registered by gender for the period April 2022- August 2022
|
Female |
Male |
Eastern Cape |
16 462 |
10 603 |
Free State |
8 544 |
7 399 |
Gauteng |
30 088 |
28 423 |
Kwa-Zulu Natal |
17 448 |
15 853 |
Limpopo |
9 173 |
5 423 |
Mpumalanga |
9 877 |
10 581 |
Northern Cape |
5 234 |
4 283 |
North West |
6 637 |
5 976 |
Western Cape |
13 435 |
9 992 |
Online |
9 478 |
5 308 |
Total |
126 376 |
103 841 |
The table below reflects the number of work seekers provided with employment counselling by gender for the period April 2022- August 2022.
|
Female |
Male |
Eastern Cape |
6 272 |
3 364 |
Free State |
3 443 |
2 122 |
Gauteng |
10 634 |
7 763 |
Kwa Zulu Natal |
7 470 |
4 601 |
Limpopo |
7 345 |
3 665 |
Mpumalanga |
5 812 |
4 404 |
Northern Cape |
2 154 |
1 842 |
North West |
3 741 |
2 268 |
Western Cape |
4 538 |
2 203 |
Total |
51 409 |
32 232 |
The table below reflects the number of work seekers that have been placed into employment opportunities by gender for the period April 2022- August 2022.
|
Female |
Male |
Eastern Cape |
1 614 |
1 535 |
Free State |
769 |
660 |
Gauteng |
2 315 |
1 921 |
Kwa Zulu Natal |
1 628 |
1 225 |
Limpopo |
3 806 |
1 983 |
Mpumalanga |
1 293 |
756 |
Northern Cape |
605 |
591 |
North West |
551 |
607 |
Western Cape |
1 050 |
751 |
Online |
2 |
1 |
Total |
13 633 |
10 030 |
The Department of Employment and Labour has gone a long way in terms of gender responsive recruitment. We have taken a conscious decision and effort to meet our employment equity target in improving recruitment of women. We have moved from 45% of SMS positions occupied by women during 2019/20 to 49,7% as at the end of March 2022.
2. In relation to any action being taken by the department toward integrating more women into the workspace, the department has recently developed and published a critical EE policy instrument, the Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace (Harassment Code) on 18 March 2022. The primary objective of this Code is to provide both employers and employees with fundamental guidelines on how to prevent, eliminate and manage all types of harassment incidents in their workplaces. All types of harassment are forms of unfair discrimination that constitute barriers to women and prevents them from accessing equal employment opportunities, their right to equality and fair labour practices in the workplace.
In addition, through the EE amendments in the EE Amendment Bill that is pending the President’s assent into law, the Minister of Employment and Labour will be empowered to regulate sector specific EE targets intended to accelerate the rate of employment of women into strategic decision-making positions in various organisations. These policy interventions are aimed at enhancing the economic empowerment of women, their economic inclusion and active participation in the economic recovery strategies and programmes.