SNIPPETS OF THE BILL:

The object of this Bill is to

(a) Promote and stimulate micro, small and medium enterprises development and growth through the economic empowerment of citizen owned companies;

(b) Promote gender equality through increasing employment opportunities in accessing, owning, managing, controlling and exploiting economic resources;

(c) Promote equal opportunities for citizen-owned companies in accessing and being awarded procurement contracts and other services from a State institutions and a private institution;

(d) Promote new investment and existing investment through joint ventures and partnerships between local and foreign investors in order to enhance broad-based economic empowerment; and

(e) Establish a citizens economic empowerment council and provide for powers and functions of the council; and

(f) Provide for incidental matters.

General Economic Empowerment Measures.

15. (1) In this part, ‘economic empowerment measures’ include actions designed to ensure broad-based economic empowerment of citizen owned companies.

(2) A State institution and a private company shall implement economic empowerment measures, which may include (a) The identification and elimination of employment barriers in the employment policy or practice of a State institution or a private company, which adversely affect a citizen owned companies ;

(b) Measures designed to further diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace based on dignity and respect of all people;

(c) Making reasonable adjustments for a local company in order to ensure that the citizen enjoys equal opportunities and is equitably represented at council and management levels and in the workforce; and Taking measures to

(i) Ensure the equitable representation of suitable qualifie people from local companies and targeted citizens in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce; and (ii) Retain and develop a citizen in employment and implement appropriate training programmes under any legislation providing for skills development.