JOHANNESBURG | Friday
WHITE males still dominate South African business, but the situation is slowly changing, according to a report published on Thursday.
The report, by Deloitte and Touche Human Capital Corporation, says black women fill just six percent of business positions in South Africa, where blacks make up 78% of the population and whites just 11%. White males hold 80% of executive positions and represent 24% of the business workforce.
But the study says 33% of new recruits are black males, against 21% white males; of those leaving companies, 30% are white males, 22% black males.
Richard Tasker, who headed the study, told The Star newspaper that white employees felt threatened by affirmative action, while blacks felt nothing had changed.
“There is a serious shortage of skilled affirmative action candidates across virtually all functional areas and at all levels,” he said.
The shortage is particularly grave at management level.”
The survey found that 67% of companies interviewed expected affirmative action candidates to be fully competent on appointment.
Most said those appointees were meeting most expectations, but 35% said they had noted deterioration in the quality and quantity of work performed as a result.
The report said 44% of the companies interviewed reported instances of poaching of black employees by other companies. – AFP
FEATURES:
Cabinet approves strategy to tackle inequality June 7, 2001
How to reduce SA’s wage gaps August 17, 2000
The rocky road to real equality August 7 1998
Competent white males have nothing to fear March 13 1998
Parliament faces the big divide February 13 1998
BACKGROUND:
White males still dominate SA workplace October 3, 2000
Employment equity deadline set November 24, 1999
Govt to adjust its own labour policies June 29 1999
Mdladlana hit with criticism on Equity Act April 29 1999
SA firms throttled by labour laws October 26, 1998
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