South African Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana on Wednesday warned that his department could take legal action against companies that do not meet a deadline of October 1 for the submission of employment equity reports.
The deadline applies to companies with 150 workers or more.
Speaking at a media briefing in Parliament, the minister said he did not wish to adopt a “skop, skiet and donner” approach when dealing with companies.
But he warned “we may be forced to take legal action against those companies that do not meet the deadline; it is important that people meet the deadline.”
In terms of the Employment Equity Act the department collects data on progress being made on the employment and advancement of historically disadvantaged people.
He said figures produced by the Commission of Employment Equity earlier this year reflected progress of only 1% in relation to new entrants into top management positions by black people (in the private sector). — I-Net Bridge