Employment Equity ACT NO. 55 OF 1998 PDF

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Summary

Preamble.—Recognising—
that as a result of apartheid and other discriminatory laws and practices, there are disparities in employment,
occupation and income within the national labour market; and
that those disparities create such pronounced disadvantages for certain categories of ...

Description

EMPLOYMENTEQUITYACT NO.55OF1998 [ViewRegulation]

[ASSENTEDTO12OCTOBER,1998] [DATEOFCOMMENCEMENT:1DECEMBER,1999] (Unlessotherwiseindicated) (EnglishtextsignedbythePresident) ThisActhasbeenupdatedtoGovernmentGazette37871dated25July,2014.

asamendedby IntelligenceServicesAct,No.65of2002 [witheffectfrom20February,2003]

ElectronicCommunicationsSecurity(Pty)LtdAct,No.68of2002 [witheffectfrom28February,2003]

GeneralIntelligenceLawsAmendmentAct,No.52of2003 [witheffectfrom28February,2003]

EmploymentEquityAmendmentAct,No.47of2013  ACT Toprovideforemploymentequity;andtoprovideformattersincidentalthereto. Preamble.—Recognising— thatasaresultofapartheidandotherdiscriminatorylawsandpractices,therearedisparitiesinemployment, occupationandincomewithinthenationallabourmarket;and thatthosedisparitiescreatesuchpronounceddisadvantagesforcertaincategoriesofpeoplethattheycannot beredressedsimplybyrepealingdiscriminatorylaws, Therefore,inorderto— promotetheconstitutionalrightofequalityandtheexerciseoftruedemocracy; eliminateunfairdiscriminationinemployment; ensuretheimplementationofemploymentequitytoredresstheeffectsofdiscrimination; achieveadiverseworkforcebroadlyrepresentativeofourpeople; promoteeconomicdevelopmentandefficiencyintheworkforce;and giveeffecttotheobligationsoftheRepublicasamemberoftheInternationalLabourOrganisation,

ARRANGEMENTOFACT (EditorialNote:Thewordingofsection8intheArrangementofSectionsbelowhasbeenchangedfromtheoriginal wordspublishedintheGazettetoreflecttheactualsectionheadingthatappearswithintheAct.)

1. 2. 3. 4.

CHAPTERI DEFINITIONS,PURPOSE,INTERPRETATIONANDAPPLICATION Definitions PurposeofthisAct InterpretationofthisAct ApplicationofthisAct

CHAPTERII PROHIBITIONOFUNFAIRDISCRIMINATION

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Eliminationofunfairdiscrimination Prohibitionofunfairdiscrimination Medicaltesting Psychologicaltestingandothersimilarassessments Applicants DisputesconcerningthisChapter Burdenofproof

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

CHAPTERIII AFFIRMATIVEACTION ApplicationofthisChapter Dutiesofdesignatedemployers VoluntarycompliancewiththisChapter Affirmativeactionmeasures Consultationwithemployees Mattersforconsultation Disclosureofinformation Analysis Employmentequityplan Report Publicationofreport Successiveemploymentequityplans Designatedemployermustassignmanager Dutytoinform Dutytokeeprecords Incomedifferentialsanddiscrimination

28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.

CHAPTERIV COMMISSIONFOREMPLOYMENTEQUITY EstablishmentofCommissionforEmploymentEquity CompositionofCommissionforEmploymentEquity FunctionsofCommissionforEmploymentEquity Staffandexpenses Publichearings ReportbyCommissionforEmploymentEquity

CHAPTERV MONITORING,ENFORCEMENTANDLEGALPROCEEDINGS

34.

PARTA Monitoring Monitoringbyemployeesandtradeunionrepresentatives Enforcement

35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.

Powersoflabourinspectors Undertakingtocomply Complianceorder Limitations ...... ...... Registerofdesignatedemployers Assessmentofcompliance ReviewbyDirectorGeneral OutcomeofDirectorGeneral’sreview FailuretocomplywithDirectorGeneral’srequestorrecommendation

46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

PARTB Legalproceedings Conflictofproceedings Consolidationofproceedings Powersofcommissionerinarbitrationproceedings JurisdictionofLabourCourt PowersofLabourCourt

51. 52.

PARTC Protectionofemployeerights Protectionofemployeerights Procedurefordisputes

CHAPTERVI

53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 64A. 65. Schedule1 Schedule2 Schedule3 Schedule4

GENERALPROVISIONS Statecontracts Codesofgoodpractice Regulations Delegations Temporaryemploymentservices Designationoforgansofstate Breachofconfidentiality Liabilityofemployers Obstruction,undueinfluenceandfraud ThisActbindstheState ApplicationofActwheninconflictwithotherlaws Repealoflawsandtransitionalarrangements AmendmentofannualturnoverthresholdsinSchedule4 Shorttitleandcommencement Maximumpermissiblefinesthatmaybeimposedforcontravening thisAct Lawsrepealed Transitionalarrangements Turnoverthresholdapplicabletodesignatedemployers

CHAPTERI DEFINITIONS,PURPOSE,INTERPRETATIONANDAPPLICATION 1.Definitions.—InthisAct,unlessthecontextotherwiseindicates— “BasicConditionsofEmploymentAct”meanstheBasicConditionsofEmploymentAct,1997(ActNo.75of 1997); “blackpeople”isagenerictermwhichmeansAfricans,ColouredsandIndians; “CCMA”meanstheCommissionforConciliation,MediationandArbitration,establishedbysection112ofthe LabourRelationsAct; “codeofgoodpractice”meansadocumentissuedbytheMinisterintermsofsection54; “collectiveagreement”meansawrittenagreementconcerningtermsandconditionsofemploymentorany othermatterofmutualinterestconcludedbyoneormoreregisteredtradeunions,ontheonehandand,onthe otherhand— (a)

oneormoreemployers;

(b)

oneormoreregisteredemployers’organisations;or

(c)

oneormoreemployersandoneormoreregisteredemployers’organisations;

“Commission”meanstheCommissionforEmploymentEquity,establishedbysection28; “Constitution”meanstheConstitutionoftheRepublicofSouthAfrica,1996(ActNo.108of1996); “designatedemployer”means— (a)

apersonwhoemploys50ormoreemployees;

(b)

apersonwhoemploysfewerthan50employeesbuthasatotalannualturnoverthatisequaltoor abovetheapplicableannualturnoverofasmallbusinessintermsoftheSchedule4ofthisAct;

(c)

amunicipality,asreferredtoinChapter7oftheConstitution;

(d)

anorganofstateasdefinedinsection239oftheConstitution,butexcludingtheNationalDefence Force,theNationalIntelligenceAgencyandtheSouthAfricanSecretService;and [Para.(d)substitutedbys.1(a)ofActNo.47of2013.]

(e)

anemployerboundbycollectiveagreementintermsofsection23or31oftheLabourRelationsAct, whichappointsitasadesignatedemployerintermsofthisAct,totheextentprovidedforinthe agreement.

“designatedgroups”meansblackpeople,womenandpeoplewithdisabilitieswho— (a)

arecitizensoftheRepublicofSouthAfricabybirthordescent;or

(b)

becamecitizensoftheRepublicofSouthAfricabynaturalisation— (i) before27April1994;or (ii) after26April1994andwhowouldhavebeenentitledtoacquirecitizenshipbynaturalisation priortothatdatebutwhowereprecludedbyapartheidpolicies;

[Definitionof“designatedgroups”substitutedbys.1(b)ofActNo.47of2013.]

“DirectorGeneral”meanstheDirectorGeneraloftheDepartmentofLabour; “dismissal”hasthemeaningassignedtoitinsection186oftheLabourRelationsAct; “dispute”includesanallegeddispute; “employee”meansanypersonotherthananindependentcontractorwho— (a)

w o r ks for an o th er per s o n o r fo r th eStatean dw h o r ec eives ,o r is en titledto r ec eive,an y remuneration;and

(b)

inanymannerassistsincarryingonorconductingthebusinessofanemployer,

and“employed”and“employment”havecorrespondingmeanings; “employmentlaw”meansanyprovisionofthisActoranyofthefollowingActs: (a)

TheUnemploymentInsuranceAct,1966(ActNo.30of1966);

(b)

theGuidanceandPlacementAct,1981(ActNo.62of1981);

(c)

theManpowerTrainingAct,1981(ActNo.56of1981);

(d)

theOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct,1993(ActNo.85of1993);

(e)

theCompensationforOccupationalInjuriesandDiseasesAct,1993(ActNo.130of1993);

(f)

theLabourRelationsAct,1995(ActNo.66of1995);

(g)

theBasicConditionsofEmploymentAct,1997(ActNo.75of1997);

(h)

anyotherAct,whoseadministrationhasbeenassignedtotheMinister.

“employmentpolicyorpractice”includes,butisnotlimitedto— (a)

recruitmentprocedures,advertisingandselectioncriteria;

(b)

appointmentsandtheappointmentprocess;

(c)

jobclassificationandgrading;

(d)

remuneration,employmentbenefitsandtermsandconditionsofemployment;

(e)

jobassignments;

(f)

theworkingenvironmentandfacilities;

(g)

traininganddevelopment;

(h)

performanceevaluationsystems;

(i)

promotion;

(j)

transfer;

(k)

demotion;

(l)

disciplinarymeasuresotherthandismissal;and

(m)

dismissal.

“familyresponsibility”meanstheresponsibilityofemployeesinrelationtotheirspouseorpartner,their dependantchildrenorothermembersoftheirimmediatefamilywhoneedtheircareorsupport; “HIV”meanstheHumanImmunodeficiencyVirus; “labourinspector”meansapersonappointedintermsofsection63oftheBasicConditionsofEmploymentAct; [Definitionof“labourinspector”substitutedbys.1(c)ofActNo.47of2013.]

“LabourRelationsAct”meanstheLabourRelationsAct,1995(ActNo.66of1995); “medicaltesting”includesanytest,question,inquiryorothermeansdesignedtoascertain,orwhichhasthe effectofenablingtheemployertoascertain,whetheranemployeehasanymedicalcondition; “Minister”meanstheMinisterofLabour; “NEDLAC”meanstheNationalEconomic,DevelopmentandLabourCouncilestablishedbysection2ofthe NationalEconomic,DevelopmentandLabourCouncilAct,1994(ActNo.35of1994); “organofstate”meansanorganofstateasdefinedinsection239oftheConstitution;

“peoplewithdisabilities”meanspeoplewhohavealongtermorrecurringphysicalormentalimpairment whichsubstantiallylimitstheirprospectsofentryinto,oradvancementin,employment; “pregnancy”includesintendedpregnancy,terminationofpregnancyandanymedicalcircumstancesrelatedto pregnancy; “prescribed”meansprescribedbyaregulationmadeundersection55; “publicservice”m e a n s  t h e  p u b l i c  s e r v i c e  r e f e r r e d  t o  i n s e c t i o n  1  ( 1 )  o f  t h e  P u b l i c  S e r v i c e  A c t , 1994(promulgatedbyProclamationNo.103of1994),andincludesanyorganisationalcomponentcontemplated insection7(4)ofthatActandspecifiedinthefirstcolumnofSchedule2tothatAct,butexcluding— (a)

theNationalDefenceForce;

(b)

theNationalIntelligenceAgency;

(c)

theSouthAfricanSecretService;

(d)

theSouthAfricanNationalAcademyofIntelligence;

[Para.(d)insertedbys.40(1)ofActNo.65of2002(EditorialNote:s.40(1)substitutedbys.51ofActNo.11of 2013)andreplacedbys.26ofActNo.68of2002(Editorialnotaes.26repealedbys.23ofActNo.52of2003).]

(e)

Comsec. [Para.(e)addedbys.25(2)ofActNo.52of2003.]

“reasonableaccommodation”meansanymodificationoradjustmenttoajobortotheworkingenvironment thatwillenableapersonfromadesignatedgrouptohaveaccesstoorparticipateoradvanceinemployment; “registeredemployers’organisation”meansanemployers’organisationasdefinedinsection213ofthe LabourRelationsActandregisteredintermsofsection96ofthatAct; “registeredtradeunion”meansatradeunionasdefinedinsection213oftheLabourRelationsActand registeredintermsofsection96ofthatAct; “remuneration”meansanypaymentinmoneyorinkind,orbothinmoneyandinkind,madeorowingtoany personinreturnforthatpersonworkingforanyotherperson,includingtheState; “representativetradeunion”meansaregisteredtradeunion,ortwoormoreregisteredtradeunionsacting jointly,thataresufficientlyrepresentativeoftheemployeesemployedbyanemployerinaworkplace; “Republic”meanstheRepublicofSouthAfricaasdefinedintheConstitution; “serve”or“submit”,inrelationtoanycommunication,meanseither— (a)

tosenditinwritingdeliveredbyhandorregisteredpost;

(b)

totransmititusinganyelectronicmechanismasaresultofwhichtherecipientiscapableofprinting thecommunication;or

(c)

tosendortransmititinanyotherprescribedmanner; [Definitionof“serve”or“submit”substitutedbys.1(d)ofActNo.47of2013.]

“suitablyqualifiedperson”meansapersoncontemplatedinsections20(3)and(4); “thisAct”includesanyregulationsmadeundersection55,butexcludesanyfootnote; “tradeunionrepresentative”meansamemberofaregisteredtradeunionwhoiselectedtorepresent employeesinaworkplace; “workplaceforum”meansaworkplaceforumestablishedintermsofChapterVoftheLabourRelationsAct. (Dateofcommencementofs.1:9August,1999.) 2.PurposeofthisAct.—ThepurposeofthisActistoachieveequityintheworkplaceby— (a)

promotingequalopportunityandfairtreatmentinemploymentthroughtheeliminationofunfair discrimination;and

(b)

implementingaffirmativeactionmeasurestoredressthedisadvantagesinemploymentexperienced bydesignatedgroups,inordertoensuretheirequitablerepresentationinalloccupationallevelsin theworkforce. [Para.(b)substitutedbys.2ofActNo.47of2013.]

(Dateofcommencementofs.2:9August,1999.) 3.InterpretationofthisAct.—ThisActmustbeinterpreted— (a)

incompliancewiththeConstitution;

(b)

soastogiveeffecttoitspurpose;

(c)

takingintoaccountanyrelevantcodeofgoodpracticeissuedintermsofthisActoranyother employmentlaw;and

(d)

incompliancewiththeinternationallawobligationsoftheRepublic,inparticularthosecontainedin theInternationalLabourOrganisationConvention(No.111)concerningDiscriminationinRespectof EmploymentandOccupation. (Dateofcommencementofs.3:9August,1999.)

4.ApplicationofthisAct.—(1)ChapterIIofthisActappliestoallemployeesandemployers. (2)ExceptwhereChapterIIIprovidesotherwise,ChapterIIIofthisActappliesonlytodesignated employersandpeoplefromdesignatedgroups. (3)ThisActdoesnotapplytomembersoftheNationalDefenceForce,theNationalIntelligenceAgency,the SouthAfricanSecretServiceortheSouthAfricanNationalAcademyofIntelligenceortothedirectorsandstaffof Comsec. [Subs.(3)substitutedbys.40(1)ofActNo.65of2002(EditorialNote:s.40(1)substitutedbys.51ofActNo. 11of2013),bys.26ofActNo.68of2002(Editorialnote:s.26repealedbys.23ofActNo.52of2003)andbys. 25(2)ofActNo.52of2003.]

(Dateofcommencementofs.4:9August,1999.)

CHAPTERII PROHIBITIONOFUNFAIRDISCRIMINATION 5.Eliminationofunfairdiscrimination.—Everyemployermusttakestepstopromoteequalopportunityinthe workplacebyeliminatingunfairdiscriminationinanyemploymentpolicyorpractice. (Dateofcommencementofs.5:9August,1999.) 6.Prohibitionofunfairdiscrimination.—(1)Nopersonmayunfairlydiscriminate,directlyorindirectly,against anemployee,inanyemploymentpolicyorpractice,ononeormoregrounds,includingrace,gender,sex,pregnancy, maritalstatus,familyresponsibility,ethnicorsocialorigin,colour,sexualorientation,age,disability,religion,HIV status,conscience,belief,politicalopinion,culture,language,birthoronanyotherarbitraryground. [Subs.(1)substitutedbys.3(a)ofActNo.47of2013.]

(2)Itisnotunfairdiscriminationto— (a)

takeaffirmativeactionmeasuresconsistentwiththepurposeofthisAct;or

(b)

distinguish,excludeorpreferanypersononthebasisofaninherentrequirementofajob.

(3)Harassmentofanemployeeisaformofunfairdiscriminationandisprohibitedonanyone,ora combinationofgroundsofunfairdiscriminationlistedinsubsection(1). (4)Adifferenceintermsandconditionsofemploymentbetweenemployeesofthesameemployerperforming thesameorsubstantiallythesameworkorworkofequalvaluethatisdirectlyorindirectlybasedonanyoneor moreofthegroundslistedinsubsection(1),isunfairdiscrimination. [Subs.(4)addedbys.3(b)ofActNo.47of2013.]

(5)TheMinister,afterconsultationwiththeCommission,mayprescribethecriteriaandprescribethe methodologyforassessingworkofequalvaluecontemplatedinsubsection(4). [Subs.(5)addedbys.3(b)ofActNo.47of2013.]

(Dateofcommencementofs.6:9August,1999.) 7.Medicaltesting.—(1)Medicaltestingofanemployeeisprohibited,unless— (a)

legislationpermitsorrequiresthetesting;or

(b)

itisjustifiableinthelightofmedicalfacts,employmentconditions,socialpolicy,thefairdistributionof employeebenefitsortheinherentrequirementsofajob.

(2)Testingofanemployeetodeterminethatemployee’sHIVstatusisprohibitedunlesssuchtestingis determinedjustifiablebytheLabourCourtintermsofsection50(4)ofthisAct. (Dateofcommencementofs.7:9August,1999.) 8.Psychologicaltestingandothersimilarassessments.—Psychologicaltestingandothersimilar assessmentsofanemployeeareprohibitedunlessthetestorassessmentbeingused— (a)

hasbeenscientificallyshowntobevalidandreliable;

(b)

canbeappliedfairlytoemployees; [Para.(b)amendedbys.4ofActNo.47of2013.]

(c)

isnotbiasedagainstanyemployeeorgroup;and [Para.(c)amendedbys.4ofActNo.47of2013.]

(d)

hasbeencertifiedbytheHealthProfessionsCouncilofSouthAfricaestablishedbysection2ofthe HealthProfessionsAct,1974(ActNo.56of1974),oranyotherbodywhichmaybeauthorisedbylaw tocertifythosetestsorassessments. [Para.(d)addedbys.4ofActNo.47of2013.]

(Dateofcommencementofs.8:9August,1999.) 9.Applicants.—Forpurposesofsections6,7and8,“employee”includesanapplicantforemployment. (Dateofcommencementofs.9:9August,1999.) 10.DisputesconcerningthisChapter.—(1)Inthissection,theword“dispute”excludesadisputeaboutan unfairdismissal,whichmustbereferredtotheappropriatebodyforconciliationandarbitrationoradjudicationin termsofChapterVIIIoftheLabourRelationsAct. (2)AnypartytoadisputeconcerningthisChaptermayreferthedisputeinwritingtotheCCMAwithinsix monthsaftertheactoromissionthatallegedlyconstitutesunfairdiscrimination. (3)TheCCMAmayatanytimepermitapartythatshowsgoodcausetoreferadisputeaftertherelevant timelimitsetoutinsubsection(2). (4)The...