Question NW517 to the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
30 April 2024 - NW517
Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
(1) What are the relevant details of the steps her Office will be taking to monitor that government departments reach the 2% target of employing persons with disabilities in the Public Service; (2) whether she has found that the 2% target is sufficient, given that over 6% of persons in the Republic are classified as having a disability; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The monitoring that the DWYPD undertakes is in line with the 5-year policy priorities as defined in the MTSF 2019/2024 which is based on the National Development Plan and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The DWYPD recognised that the 2% minimum employment equity target was not sufficient especially as the 2% target was in place for the past 24 years and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides that a minimum employment equity target of 7% of persons with disabilities must be reached by 2030. It is anticipated that presenting the annual progress report on implementation on the WPRPD to Cabinet will serve as a means to persuade departments to demonstrate their progress made towards employing persons with disabilities in the public service.
The DWYPD processed a cabinet Memorandum requesting Cabinet to increase the employment equity target of persons with disabilities from a minimum employment equity target of 2% to a minimum employment equity target of 3% for the 2024-2025 financial year and to increase same by 1% each year until the minimum employment equity target of 7% is reached by 2030. Cabinet approved the request made by the DWYPD in its cabinet memorandum on 1 November 2023.
Affirming the cabinet decision, the President highlighted that all efforts must be made to ensure that persons with disabilities are given equal and equitable employment opportunities even if it requires persons with disabilities being head hunted for posts if they meet the requirements without having to advertise same. Further, persons with disabilities do not have to have experience when applying for entry level positions.
The DWYPD has communicated the cabinet decision to the Department of Public Service and Administration to develop guidelines and strategies which will be communicated with all government departments and entities to assist them to meet the 3% minimum employment equity target for persons with disabilities in the 2024-2025 financial year. The DWYPD has also written to all government departments informing them of the cabinet decision further consultative workshops were held with them to highlight interventions required and is holding one on one meetings with departments to assist them with strategies that they could undertake to assist with reaching the 3% minimum employment equity target as requested. Naturally if departments reach higher than 3% this will be most welcome and it will demonstrate that we are on our way towards achieving the 7% employment equity target for persons with disabilities by 2030.