Employment Equity Act Flashcards
What is the purpose of the Act?
To bring fairness in the workplace, mainly through:
-The ban on unfair discrimination, which is applicable to all employers
-Measures for affirmative action, which are applicable only to designated employers
What is expected of the employer?
All employers are expected to take steps to end unfair discrimination in their employment policies and practices.
Unfair discrimination against employees or prospective employees on the basis of race, gender, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibilities, ethnic or social origins, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, HIV status, religion, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language and birth is forbidden.
Medical and psychometric testing of employees is forbidden unless it is justified.
Designated employers must prepare and implement employment equity plans after having carried out a workforce analysis and consulted Trade Unions, and employees.
Employment equity plans must contain specific affirmative action measures in order to promote the fair representation of people from designated groups in all occupational categories and levels in the work force.
Designated employers must take steps to progressively reduce inequitable income differentials.
Designated employers must report to the Department of Labour on the ways in which they are implementing employment equity.
