‘Workplace discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissals still rife in SA’

JOHANNESBURG - Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Boitumelo Moloi, said the amendments to the Employment Equity Act aimed at stopping workplace discrimination and harassment were more urgent than ever, as shown by the Commission for Employment Equity's (CEE) annual report.

The deputy minister was speaking at an event releasing the CEE annual report and launching the Employment Equity Instruments, the new Code of Good Practice on the Elimination and Prevention of Harassment in the World of Work, on Thursday.

The release of the CEE report highlighted "the importance of appropriate ongoing training

of those appointed" to address harassment and the need for experienced legal practitioners to provide guidance and mentorship.

The code of ethics was developed to protect employees of businesses by addressing harassment that occurs in South African workplaces due to discrimination.

"It is suggested further that organisations such as the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) provide training to those who represent parties in matters relating to harassment to strengthen the support structures and thereby enhance accessibility to this often challenging area of the law," the report said.

In a breakdown of the 1, 777 Employment Equity Act-linked referrals received by the CCMA from April 1, 2021 until anuary 31 2022, the report found that 1, 087 were for unfair dismissal on arbitrary grounds, while 359 were over "equal work for equal pay."

Complaints of discrimination based on race, gender, pregnancy and disability were still referred to the CCMA in double digits.

Moloi said the code is being published against the backdrop of the country's ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work.