South Africa’s Black Management Forum (BMF) told parliament on Wednesday that labour inspectors were not visible enough and there was lack of external verification of companies’ claims in affirmative action reports. It suggested the employment of an independent agency to do the job.
The BMF also proposed that stiff fines — indexed to inflation – should be imposed for not complying with affirmative action in the workplace.
In a submission during public hearings on affirmative action — also known as employment equity — the forum told members of the National Assembly labour portfolio committee that there had been little change in the composition of management in South Africa in the last two years — with white management still overwhelmingly predominant.
The submission read: “The labour department seems not to have or lacks the willingness to build a capacity of monitoring the processes … the actual monitoring is about numbers, not about the actual development of individuals within the designated groups.”
There was also the perception that the private sector was not taking the issue of employment equity seriously and government was seen to be too accommodating to it “and as such is not doing enough to make companies comply with the provisions of the Employment Equity Act”.
BMF business and policy desk director Mxolisi Lindie said the department should come up with a mechanism for monitoring the actual empowerment of individuals within the designated groups; women, disabled people, blacks, Indians and coloureds.
“The services of an independent agency should be employed for the actual verification and monitoring of progress in various companies.”
The BMF, which represents emergent corporate black managers, noted that in 2001/02 men held 87% of top management positions in South Africa, black representation in top management stood at 6%, that for coloureds at 3% and 4% for Indians.
Senior management position for whites stood at 82%, blacks 9%, coloureds and Indians at 5%.
Women of all races held 38% of the management (top and senior) and professional category in the labour market.
In 2002/03 men held 88% of top management positions. Black representation in top management stood at 8%, coloureds at 13% and 4% for Indians.
Senior management positions for whites was 80%, blacks 10%, coloureds and Indians at 5% each. Women continued to hold 38% of top management and professional positions.
“Comparing these two years, there’s no significant change in the profile of employment,” said the forum. – I-Net Bridge