Employment Equity Act, 1998

Act 55 of 1998

This Act has not yet come into force in full. See the Document detail tab for more information.
This is the latest version of this Act.
Citation
Act 55 of 1998
Date
Language
English
Type
Act
Publication
Download PDF (12.0 MB)
Collections
Related documents
South Africa

Employment Equity Act, 1998

Act 55 of 1998

  • Published in Government Gazette 19370 on 19 October 1998
  • Assented to on 12 October 1998
  • There are multiple commencements
    • Provisions Status
    Chapter IV (section 28–33) commenced on 14 May 1999 by Proclamation R55 of 1999.
    Chapter I (section 1–4); Chapter II (section 5–11); Chapter V, Part A, subpart  (section 34); Part B, section 47–50; Part C (section 51–52); Chapter VI, section 54–57, section 59–64 commenced on 9 August 1999 by Proclamation R83 of 1999.
    Chapter III (section 12–27); Chapter V, Part A, subpart  (section 35–45); Part B, section 46; Chapter VI, section 58, section 65 commenced on 1 December 1999 by Proclamation R115 of 1999.
    Chapter II, section 6(4)–(5), section 8(d), section 10(6)(aA), (8), section 11(1)–(b); Chapter III, section 20(7), section 21(4A)–(4B); Chapter V, Part A, subpart, section 36(1)–(2), section 42(1)–(4), section 45(1)–(4); Part B, section 48(1)–(2), section 50(5); Chapter VI, section 64A commenced on 1 August 2014.
    Chapter III, section 15A, section 20(2A); Chapter V, Part A, subpart, section 42(1)(aA) commenced on 1 January 2025.
    Chapter VI, section 53 not yet commenced.
  • [This is the version of this document from 1 January 2025.]
  1. [Amended by Intelligence Services Act, 2002 (Act 65 of 2002) on 20 February 2003]
  2. [Amended by Electronic Communications Security (Pty) Ltd Act, 2002 (Act 68 of 2002) on 28 February 2003]
  3. [Amended by General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 52 of 2003) on 28 February 2003]
  4. [Amended by Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2013 (Act 47 of 2013) on 1 August 2014]
  5. [Amended by Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2022 (Act 4 of 2022) on 1 January 2025]
(English text signed by the President.)ACTTo provide for employment equity; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
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; andthat 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; andgive effect to the obligations of the Republic as a member of the International Labour Organisation,BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa as follows:—

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)an employer who employs 50 or more employees;(b)[paragraph (b) deleted by section 1(a) of Act 4 of 2022](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[paragraph (d) substituted by section 1(a) of Act 47 of 2013](e)an employer bound by a 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 section 1(b) of Act 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)works for another person or for the State and who receives, or is entitled to receive, any 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 dependent 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 section 1(c) of Act 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;"National Minimum Wage Commission" means the Commission established in terms of section 8 of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2018 (Act No. 9 of 2018);[defintion of "National Minimum Wage Commission" inserted by section 1(b) of Act 4 of 2022]"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" includes people who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with various barriers, may substantially limit their prospects of entry into, or advancement in, employment, and ‘persons with disabilities’ has a corresponding meaning;[definition of "people with disabilities" substituted by section 1(c) of Act 4 of 2022]"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" means the public service referred to in section 1(1) of the Public Service Act, 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;[paragraph (b) amended by section 26 of Act 68 of 2002](c)the South African Secret Service;(d)the South African National Academy of Intelligence;[paragraph (d) added by section 40(1) of Act 65 of 2002](d)Comsec[paragraph (d) added by section 26 of Act 68 of 2002][Please note: numbering as in original.](e)Comsec.[paragraph (e) added by section 25(2) of Act 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 workplace;"Republic" means the Republic of South Africa as defined in the Constitution;"sector" means an industry or service or part of any industry or service;[definition of "sector" inserted by section 1(d) of Act 4 of 2022]"serve" or "submit" [definition of ""serve" or "submit"" substituted by section 1(d) of Act 47 of 2013 and deleted by section 1(e) of Act 4 of 2022]"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 workplace;"workplace forum" means a workplace forum established in terms of Chapter V of the Labour Relations Act.

2. Purpose of this Act

The purpose of this Act is to achieve equity in the workplace 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.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 2 of Act 47 of 2013]

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.

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.[subsection (3) substituted by section 40(1) of Act 65 of 2002, by section 26 of Act 68 of 2002 and by section 25(2) of Act 52 of 2003]

Chapter II
Prohibition of unfair discrimination

5. Elimination of unfair discrimination

Every employer must take steps to promote equal opportunity in the workplace by eliminating unfair discrimination in any employment policy or practice.

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.[subsection (1) substituted by section 3(a) of Act 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.[subsection (4) added by section 3(b) of Act 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).[subsection (5) added by section 3(b) of Act 47 of 2013]

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 to be justifiable by the Labour Court in terms of section 50(4) of this Act.

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 all employees; and[paragraph (b) amended by section 2 of Act 4 of 2022]
(c)is not biased against any employee or group.[paragraph (c) amended by section 2 of Act 4 of 2022]
(d)[paragraph (d) added by section 4 of Act 47 of 2013 and deleted by section 2 of Act 4 of 2022]

9. Applicants

For purposes of sections 6, 7 and 8, "employee" includes an applicant for employment.

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 party that refers a dispute must satisfy the CCMA that—
(a)a copy of the referral has been served on every other party to the dispute; and
(b)the referring party has made a reasonable attempt to resolve the dispute.
(5)The CCMA must attempt to resolve the dispute through conciliation.
(6)If the dispute remains unresolved after conciliation—
(a)any party to the dispute may refer it to the Labour Court for adjudication;
(aA)an employee may refer the dispute to the CCMA for arbitration if—
(i)the employee alleges unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual harassment; or
(ii)in any other case, that employee earns less than the amount stated in the determination made by the Minister in terms of section 6(3) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act; or
[paragraph (aA) inserted by section 5(a) of Act 47 of 2013]
(b)any party to the dispute may refer it to the CCMA for arbitration if all the parties to the dispute consent to arbitration of the dispute.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 5(b) of Act 47 of 2013]
(7)The relevant provisions of Parts C and D of Chapter VII of the Labour Relations Act, with the changes required by context, apply in respect of a dispute in terms of this Chapter.
(8)A person affected by an award made by a commissioner of the CCMA persuant to a dispute contemplated in subsection (6)(aA) may appeal to the Labour Court agaist that award within 14 days of the date of the award, but the Labour Court, on good cause shown, may extend the period within which that person may appeal.[subsection (8) added by section 5(c) of Act 47 of 2013]

11. Burden of proof

(1)If unfair discrimination is alleged on a ground listed in section 6(1), the employer against whom the allegation is made must prove, on a balance of probabilities, that such discrimination—
(a)did not take place as alleged; or
(b)is rational and not unfair, or is otherwise justifiable.
(b)If unfair discrimination is alleged on an arbitrary ground, the complainant must prove, on a balance of probabilities, that—
(a)the conduct complained of is not rational;
(b)the conduct complained of amounts to discrimination; and
(c)the discrimination is unfair.
[section 11 substituted by section 6 of Act 47 of 2013]

Chapter III
Affirmative action

12. Application of this Chapter

Except where otherwise provided, this Chapter applies only to designated employers.

13. Duties of designated employers

(1)Every designated employer must, in order to achieve employment equity, implement affirmative action measures for people from designated groups in terms of this Act.
(2)A designated employer must—
(a)consult with its employees as required by section 16;
(b)conduct an analysis as required by section 19;
(c)prepare an employment equity plan as required by section 20; and
(d)report to the Director-General on progress made in implementing its employment equity plan, as required by section 21.

14. ***

[section 14 repealed by section 3 of Act 4 of 2022]

15. Affirmative action measures

(1)Affirmative action measures are measures designed to ensure that suitably qualified people from designated groups have equal employment opportunities and are equitably represented in all occupational levels in the workforce of a designated employer.[subsection (1) substituted by section 7(a) of Act 47 of 2013]
(2)Affirmative action measures implemented by a designated employer must include—
(a)measures to identify and eliminate employment barriers, including unfair discrimination, which adversely affect people from designated groups;
(b)measures designed to further diversity in the workplace based on equal dignity and respect of all people;
(c)making reasonable accommodation for people from designated groups in order to ensure that they enjoy equal opportunities and are equitably represented in the workforce of a designated employer;
(d)subject to subsection (3), measures to—
(i)ensure the equitable representation of suitably qualified people from designated groups in all occupational levels in the workforce; and[subparagraph (i) substituted by section 7(b) of Act 47 of 2013]
(ii)retain and develop people from designated groups and to implement appropriate training measures, including measures in terms of an Act of Parliament providing for skills development.
(3)The measures referred to in subsection (2)(d) include preferential treatment and numerical goals, but exclude quotas.
(4)Subject to section 42, nothing in this section requires a designated employer to take any decision concerning an employment policy or practice that would establish an absolute barrier to the prospective or continued employment or advancement of people who are not from designated groups.

15A. Determination of sectoral numerical targets

(1)The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, identify national economic sectors for the purposes of this Act, having regard to any relevant code contained in the Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities published by Statistics South Africa.
(2)The Minister may, after consulting the relevant sectors and with the advice of the Commission, for the purpose of ensuring the equitable representation of suitably qualified people from designated groups at all occupational levels in the workforce, by notice in the Gazette set numerical targets for any national economic sector identified in terms of subsection (1).
(3)A notice issued in terms of subsection (2) may set different numerical targets for different occupational levels, sub-sectors or regions within a sector or on the basis of any other relevant factor.
(4)A draft of any notice that the Minister proposes to issue in terms of subsection (1) or subsection (2) must be published in the Gazette, allowing interested parties at least 30 days to comment thereon.
[section 15A inserted by section 4 of Act 4 of 2022]

16. Consultation with employees

(1)A designated employer must take reasonable steps to consult and attempt to reach agreement on the matters referred to in section 17—
(a)with a representative trade union representing members at the workplace; or[paragraph (a) substituted by section 5 of Act 4 of 2022]
(b)if no representative trade union represents members at the workplace, with its employees or representatives nominated by them.
(2)The employees or their nominated representatives with whom an employer consults in terms of subsection (1)(a) and (b), taken as a whole, must reflect the interests of—
(a)employees from across all occupational levels of the employer's workforce;[paragraph (a) substituted by section 8 of Act 47 of 2013]
(b)employees from designated groups; and
(c)employees who are not from designated groups.
(3)This section does not affect the obligation of any designated employer in terms of section 86 of the Labour Relations Act to consult and reach consensus with a workplace forum on any of the matters referred to in section 17 of this Act.

17. Matters for consultation

A designated employer must consult the parties referred to in section 16 concerning—
(a)the conduct of the analysis referred to in section 19;
(b)the preparation and implementation of the employment equity plan referred to in section 20; and
(c)a report referred to in section 21.

18. Disclosure of information

(1)When a designated employer engages in consultation in terms of this Chapter, that employer must disclose to the consulting parties all relevant information that will allow those parties to consult effectively.
(2)Unless this Act provides otherwise, the provisions of section 163 of the Labour Relations Act, with the changes required by context, apply to disclosure of information.3Section 16 of the Labour Relations Act contains detailed provisions about disclosure of information, and disputes concerning disclosure. Regulations concerning the conduct of an analysis may, under section 55, read with section 19, be made. However, the employment policies and practices defined in section 1 are an indication of the potential areas of both direct and indirect discrimination that should be subject to analysis.

19. Analysis

(1)A designated employer must collect information and conduct an analysis, as prescribed, of its employment policies, practices, procedures and the working environment, in order to identify employment barriers which adversely affect people from designated groups.
(2)An analysis conducted in terms of subsection (1) must include a profile, as prescribed, of the designated employer's workforce within each occupational level in order to determine the degree of underrepresentation of people from designated groups in various occupational levels in that employer's workforce.[subsection (2) substituted by section 9 of Act 47 of 2013]

20. Employment equity plan

(1)A designated employer must prepare and implement an employment equity plan which will achieve reasonable progress towards employment equity in that employer’s workforce.
(2)An employment equity plan prepared in terms of subsection (1) must state—
(a)the objectives to be achieved for each year of the plan;
(b)the affirmative action measures to be implemented as required by section 15(2);
(c)where underrepresentation of people from designated groups has been identified by the analysis, the numerical goals to achieve the equitable representation of suitably qualified people from designated groups within each occupational level in the workforce, the timetable within which this is to be achieved, and the strategies intended to achieve those goals;[paragraph (c) substituted by section 10(a) of Act 47 of 2013][Editorial note: section 15 of Act 4 of 2022 claims to delete Footnote 4; however, Footnote 4 was removed when paragraph (c) was substituted by section 10(a) of Act 47 of 2013]
(d)the timetable for each year of the plan for the achievement of goals and objectives other than numerical goals;
(e)the duration of the plan, which may not be shorter than one year or longer than five years;
(f)the procedures that will be used to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the plan and whether reasonable progress is being made towards implementing employment equity;
(g)the internal procedures to resolve any dispute about the interpretation or implementation of the plan;
(h)the persons in the workforce, including senior managers, responsible for monitoring and implementing the plan; and
(i)any other prescribed matter.
(2A)The numerical goals set by an employer in terms of subsection (2) must comply with any sectoral target in terms of section 15A that applies to that employer.[subsection (2A) inserted by section 6 of Act 4 of 2022]
(3)For purposes of this Act, a person may be suitably qualified for a job as a result of any one of, or any combination of that person’s—
(a)formal qualifications;
(b)prior learning;
(c)relevant experience; or
(d)capacity to acquire, within a reasonable time, the ability to do the job.
(4)When determining whether a person is suitably qualified for a job, an employer must—
(a)review all the factors listed in subsection (3); and
(b)determine whether that person has the ability to do the job in terms of any one of, or any combination of those factors.
(5)In making a determination under subsection (4), an employer may not unfairly discriminate against a person solely on the grounds of that person's lack of relevant experience.
(6)An employment equity plan may contain any other measures that are consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(7)The Director-General may apply to the Labour Court to impose a fine in accordance with Schedule 1, if a designated employer fails to prepare or implement an employment equity plan in terms of this section.[subsection (7) added by section 10(b) of Act 47 of 2013]

21. Report5

5The first report will refer to the initial development of and consultation around an employment equity plan. The subsequent reports will detail the progress made in implementing the employment equity plan.
(1)A designated employer must submit a report to the Director-General once every year on such date and in such manner as may be prescribed.[subsection (1) substituted by section 11(a) of Act 47 of 2013 and by section 7(a) of Act 4 of 2022]
(2)[subsection (2) deleted by section 11(b) of Act 47 of 2013]
(3)[subsection (3) substituted by section 11(c) of Act 47 of 2013 and deleted by section 7(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(4)[subsection (4) substituted by section 11(c) of Act 47 of 2013 and deleted by section 7(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(4A)An employer that is not able to submit a report to the Director-General within the period prescribed in terms of subsection (1) must notify the Director-General in the prescribed manner and period giving reasons for its inability to do so.[subsection (4A) inserted by section 11(d) of Act 47 of 2013 and substituted by section 7(c) of Act 4 of 2022]
(4B)The Director-General may apply to the Labour Court to impose a fine in accordance with schedule 1, if an employer—
(a)fails to submit a report in terms of this section;
(b)fails to notify and give reasons to the Director-General in terms of subsection (4A); or
(c)has notified the Director-General in terms of subsection (4A) but the reasons are false or invalid.
[subsection (4B) inserted by section 11(d) of Act 47 of 2013]
(5)[subsection (5) deleted by section 11(e) of Act 47 of 2013]
(6)Every report prepared in terms of this section is a public document.

22. Publication of report

(1)Every designated employer that is a public company must publish a summary of a report required by section 21 in that employer’s annual financial report.
(2)When a designated employer within any organ of state has produced a report in terms of section 21, the Minister responsible for that employer must table that report in Parliament.

23. Successive employment equity plans

Before the end of the term of its current employment equity plan, a designated employer must prepare a subsequent employment equity plan.

24. Designated employer must assign manager

(1)Every designated employer must—
(a)assign one or more senior managers to take responsibility for monitoring and implementing an employment equity plan;
(b)provide the managers with the authority and means to perform their functions; and
(c)take reasonable steps to ensure that the managers perform their functions.
(2)The assignment of responsibility to a manager in terms of subsection (1) does not relieve the designated employer of any duty imposed by this Act or any other law.

25. Duty to inform

(1)An employer must display at the workplace where it can be read by employees a notice in the prescribed form, informing them about the provisions of this Act66Regulations may, under section 55, be made containing a standard notice, in all official languages, summarising the provisions of this Act, which all employers should display in every workplace.
(2)A designated employer must, in each of its workplaces, place in prominent places that are accessible to all employees—
(a)the most recent report submitted by that employer to the Director-General;
(b)any compliance order, arbitration award or order of the Labour Court concerning the provisions of this Act in relation to that employer; and
(c)any other document concerning this Act as may be prescribed.
(3)An employer who has an employment equity plan, must make a copy of the plan available to its employees for copying and consultation.

26. Duty to keep records

An employer must establish and, for the prescribed period, maintain records in respect of its workforce, its employment equity plan and any other records relevant to its compliance with this Act.

27. Income differentials and discrimination

[heading substituted by section 12(a) of Act 47 of 2013]
(1)Every designated employer, when reporting in terms of section 21(1), must submit a statement, as prescribed, to the National Minimum Wage Commission on the remuneration and benefits received in each occupational level of that employer’s workforce.[subsection (1) substituted by section 12(b) of Act 47 of 2013 and by section 8(a) of Act 4 of 2022]
(2)Where disproportionate income differentials, or unfair discrimination by virtue of a difference in terms and conditions of employment contemplated in section 6(4), are reflected in the statement contemplated in subsection (1), a designated employer must take measures to progressively reduce such differentials subject to such guidance as may be given by the Minister as contemplated in subsection (4).[subsection (2) substituted by section 12(b) of Act 47 of 2013]
(3)The measures referred to in subsection (2) may include—
(a)collective bargaining;
(b)compliance with sectoral determinations made by the Minister in terms of section 51 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the national minimum wage set in terms of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2018 (Act No. 9 of 2018);
(c)applying the norms and benchmarks set by the National Minimum Wage Commission;
(d)relevant measures contained in skills development legislation; or
(e)other measures that are appropriate in the circumstances.
[subsection (3) substituted by section 8(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(4)The National Minimum Wage Commission must research and investigate norms and benchmarks for proportionate income differentials and advise the Minister on appropriate measures for reducing disproportional differentials.[subsection (4) substituted by section 8(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(5)The National Minimum Wage Commission may not disclose any information pertaining to individual employees or employers.[subsection (5) substituted by section 8(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(6)Parties to a collective bargaining process may request the information contained in the statement contemplated in subsection (1) for collective bargaining purposes subject to section 16(4) and (5) of the Labour Relations Act.

Chapter IV
Commission for Employment Equity

28. Establishment of Commission for Employment Equity

The Commission for Employment Equity is hereby established.

29. Composition of Commission for Employment Equity

(1)The Commission consists of a chairperson and eight other members appointed by the Minister to hold office on a part-time basis.
(2)The members of the Commission must include—
(a)two people nominated by those voting members of NEDLAC who represent organised labour;
(b)two people nominated by those voting members of NEDLAC who represent organised business;
(c)two people nominated by those voting members of NEDLAC who represent the State; and
(d)two people nominated by those voting members of NEDLAC who represent the organisations of community and development interests in the Development Chamber in NEDLAC.
(3)A party that nominates persons in terms of subsection (2) must have due regard to promoting the representivity of people from designated groups.
(4)The Chairperson and each other member of the Commission—
(a)must have experience and expertise relevant to the functions contemplated in section 30;
(b)must act impartially when performing any function of the Commission;
(c)may not engage in any activity that may undermine the integrity of the Commission; and
(d)must not participate in forming or communicating any advice on any matter in respect of which they have a direct financial interest or any other conflict of interest.
(5)The Minister must appoint a member of the Commission to act as chairperson whenever the office of chairperson is vacant.
(6)The members of the Commission must choose from among themselves a person to act in the capacity of chairperson during the temporary absence of the chairperson.
(7)The Minister may determine—
(a)the term of office for the chairperson and for each member of the Commission, but no member's term of office may exceed five years;
(b)the remuneration and allowances to be paid to members of the Commission with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance; and
(c)any other conditions of appointment not provided for in this section.
(8)The chairperson and members of the Commission may resign by giving at least one month’s written notice to the Minister.
(9)The Minister may remove the chairperson or a member of the Commission from office for—
(a)serious misconduct;
(b)permanent incapacity;
(c)that person’s absence from three consecutive meetings of the Commission without the prior permission of the chairperson, except on good cause shown; or
(d)engaging in any activity that may undermine the integrity of the Commission.

30. Functions of Commission for Employment Equity

(1)The Commission advises the Minister on—
(a)codes of good practice issued by the Minister in terms of section 54;
(b)regulations made by the Minister in terms of section 55; and
(c)policy and any other matter concerning this Act.
(2)In addition to the functions in subsection (1) the Commission may—
(a)make awards recognising achievements of employers in furthering the purpose of this Act;
(b)research and report to the Minister on any matter relating to the application of this Act, including appropriate and well-researched norms and benchmarks for the setting of numerical goals in various sectors; and
(c)perform any other prescribed function.

31. Staff and expenses

Subject to the laws governing the public service, the Minister must provide the Commission with the staff necessary for the performance of its functions.

32. Public hearings

In performing its functions, the Commission may—
(a)call for written representations from members of the public; and
(b)hold public hearings at which it may permit members of the public to make oral representations.

33. Report by Commission for Employment Equity

The Commission must submit an annual report to the Minister

Chapter V
Monitoring, enforcement and legal proceedings

Part A

Monitoring

34. Monitoring by employees and trade union representatives

Any employee or trade union representative may bring an alleged contravention of this Act to the attention of—
(a)another employee;
(b)an employer;
(c)a trade union;
(d)a workplace forum;
(e)a labour inspector;
(f)the Director-General; or
(g)the Commission.

Enforcement

35. Powers of labour inspectors

A labour inspector acting in terms of this Act has the authority to enter, question and inspect as provided for in sections 65 and 66 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

36. Undertaking to comply

(1)A labour inspector may request and obtain a written undertaking from a designated employer to comply with paragraph (a), (b), (c), (f), (h), (i) or (j) within a specified period, if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that the employer has failed to—
(a)consult with employees as required by section 16;
(b)conduct an analysis as required by section 19;
(c)prepare an employment equity plan as required by section 20;[paragraph (c) omitted by section 13 of Act 47 of 2013 and inserted by section 9(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(d)[paragraph (d) omitted by section 13 of Act 47 of 2013]
(e)[paragraph (e) omitted by section 13 of Act 47 of 2013]
(f)publish its report as required by section 22;
(g)[paragraph (g) omitted by section 13 of Act 47 of 2013]
(h)assign responsibility to one or more senior managers as required by section 24;
(i)inform its employees as required by section 25; or
(j)keep records as required by section 26.
[subsection (1) amended by section 9(a) of Act 4 of 2022]
(2)If a designated employer does not comply with a written undertaking within the period stated in the written undertaking, the Labour Court may, on application by the Director-General, make the undertaking, or any part of the undertaking, an order of the Labour Court.[section 36 substituted by section 13 of Act 47 of 2013]

37. Compliance order

(1)A labour inspector may serve a compliance order on a designated employer in the prescribed manner if that employer has failed to comply with section 16, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25 or 26 of this Act.[subsection (1) substituted by section 14(a) of Act 47 of 2013 and by section 10(a) of Act 4 of 2022]
(2)A compliance order contemplated in subsection (1) must be issued by a labour inspector and must set out—
(a)the name of the employer, and the workplaces to which the order applies;
(b)those provisions of Chapter III of this Act which the employer has not complied with and details of the conduct constituting non-compliance;
(c)any written undertaking given by the employer in terms of section 36 and any failure by the employer to comply with the written undertaking;
(d)any steps that the employer must take and the period within which those steps must be taken;
(e)the maximum fine, if any, that may be imposed on the employer in terms of Schedule 1 for failing to comply with the order; and
(f)any other prescribed information.
[subsection (2) amended by section 10(b) of Act 4 of 2022]
(3)A copy of the compliance order must be served on the employer named in it.[subsection (3) substituted by section 14(b) of Act 47 of 2013]
(4)A designated employer who receives a compliance order served in terms of subsection (3) must display a copy of that order prominently at a place accessible to the affected employees at each workplace named in it.
(5)A designated employer must comply with the compliance order within the time period stated in it.[subsection (5) substituted by section 14(c) of Act 47 of 2013]
(6)If a designated employer does not comply with an order within the period stated in it, the Director-General may apply to the Labour Court to make the compliance order an order of the Labour Court.[subsection (6) substituted by section 14(c) of Act 47 of 2013]

38. Limitations

A labour inspector may not issue a compliance order in respect of a failure to comply with a provision of Chapter III of this Act if—
(a)the employer is being reviewed by the Director-General in terms of section 43; or
(b)the Director-General has referred an employer’s failure to comply with a recommendation to the Labour Court in terms of section 45.

39. ***

[section 39 repealed by section 15 of Act 47 of 2013]

40. ***

[section 40 repealed by section 15 of Act 47 of 2013]

41. Register of designated employers

(1)The Minister must keep a register of designated employers that have submitted the reports required by section 21.
(2)The register referred to in subsection (1) is a public document.

42. Assessment of compliance

(1)In determining whether a designated employer is implementing employment equity in compliance with this Act, the Director-General or any person or body applying this Act may, in addition to the factors stated in section 15, take the following into account:
(a)The extent to which suitably qualified people from and amongst the different designated groups are equitably represented within each occupational level in that employer's workforce in relation to the demographic profile of the national and regional economically active population;
(aA)whether the employer has complied with a sectoral target as set out in terms of section 15A applicable to that employer;[paragraph (aA) inserted by section 11 of Act 4 of 2022]
(b)reasonable steps taken by a designated employer to train suitably qualified people from the designated groups;
(c)reasonable steps taken by a designated employer to implement its employment equity plan;
(d)the extent to which the designated employer has made progress in eliminating employment barriers that adversely affect people from designated groups;
(dA)reasonable steps taken by an employer to appoint and promote suitably qualified people from the designated groups; and
(e)any other prescribed factor.
(2)The Minister, after consultation with NEDLAC, may issue a regulation in terms of section 55 which must be taken into account by any person who is required to determine whether a designated employer is implementing employment equity in compliance with this Act.
(3)Without limiting subsection (1)(a), the regulation made in terms of subsection (2) may specify the circumstances under which an employer's compliance should be determined with reference to the demographic profile of either the national economically active population or the regional economically active population.
(4)In any assessment of its compliance with this act or in any court proceedings, a designsted employer may raise any reasonable ground to justify its failure to comply.
[section 42 substituted by section 16 of Act 47 of 2013]

43. Review by Director-General

(1)The Director-General may conduct a review to determine whether an employer is complying with this Act.
(2)In order to conduct the review the Director-General may—
(a)request an employer to submit to the Director-General a copy of its current analysis or employment equity plan;
(b)request an employer to submit to the Director-General any book, record, correspondence, document or information that could reasonably be relevant to the review of the employer’s compliance with this Act;
(c)request a meeting with an employer to discuss its employment equity plan, the implementation of its plan and any matters related to its compliance with this Act; or
(d)request a meeting with any—
(i)employee or trade union consulted in terms of section 16;
(ii)workplace forum; or
(iii)other person who may have information relevant to the review.

44. Outcome of Director-General’s review

Subsequent to a review in terms of section 43, the Director-General may—
(a)approve a designated employer’s employment equity plan; or
(b)make a recommendation to an employer, in writing, stating—
(i)steps which the employer must take in connection with its employment equity plan or the implementation of that plan, or in relation to its compliance with any other provision of this Act; and
(ii)the period within which those steps must be taken; and
(iii)any other prescribed information.

45. Failure to comply with Director-General's request or recommendation

(1)If an employer fails to comply with a request made by the Director-General in terms of section 43(2) or a recommendation made by the Director-General in terms of section 44(b), the Director-General may apply to the Labour Court—
(a)for an order directing the employer to comply with the request or recommendation; or
(b)if the employer fails to justify the failure to comply with the request or recommendation, to impose a fine in accordance with Schedule 1 on the employer.
(2)If an employer notifies the Director-General in writing within the period specified in a request or recommendation, the Director-General must institute proceedings in terms of subsection (1) within—
(a)90 days of receiving the employer's notification, in the case of a request; or
(b)180 days of receiving the employer's notification, in the case of a recommendation.
(3)If the Director-General does not institute proceedings within the relevant period contemplated in subsection (2), the request or recommendation, as the case may be, lapses.
(4)Any challenge to the validity of the Director-General's request or recommendation may only be made in the proceedings contemplated in subsection (1).
[section 45 substituted by section 17 of Act 47 of 2013]

Part B – Legal proceedings

46. Conflict of proceedings

(1)If a dispute has been referred to the CCMA by a party in terms of Chapter II and the issue to which the dispute relates also forms the subject of a referral to the Labour Court by the Director-General in terms of section 45, the CCMA proceedings must be stayed until the Labour Court makes a decision on the referral by the Director-General.
(2)If a dispute has been referred to the CCMA by a party in terms of Chapter II against an employer being reviewed by the Director-General in terms of section 43, there may not be conciliation or adjudication in respect of the dispute until the review has been completed and the employer has been informed of the outcome.

47. Consolidation of proceedings

Disputes concerning contraventions of this Act by the same employer may be consolidated.

48. Powers of commissioner in arbitration proceedings

(1)A commissioner of the CCMA may, in any arbitration proceedings in terms of this Act, make any appropriate arbitration award that gives effect to a provision of this Act.[subsection (1), previously unnunbered, numbered by section 18 of Act 47 of 2013]
(2)An award made by a commissioner of the CCMA hearing a matter in terms of section 10(6)(aA) or (b) may include any order reffered to in section 50(2)(a) to (c), read with the changes required by the context, but an award of damages reffered to in section 50(2)(b) may not exceed the amount stated in the determiation made by the Minister in terms of section 6(3) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.[subsection (2) added by section 18 of Act 47 of 2013]

49. Jurisdiction of Labour Court

The Labour Court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine any dispute about the interpretation or application of this Act, except where this Act provides otherwise.

50. Powers of Labour Court

(1)Except where this Act provides otherwise, the Labour Court may make any appropriate order including—
(a)on application by the Director-General in terms of section 37(6) or 39(6) making a compliance order an order of the Labour Court;
(b)subject to the provisions of this Act, condoning the late filing of any document with, or the late referral of any dispute to, the Labour Court;
(c)directing the CCMA to conduct an investigation to assist the Court and to submit a report to the Court;
(d)awarding compensation in any circumstances contemplated in this Act;
(e)awarding damages in any circumstances contemplated in this Act;
(f)ordering compliance with any provision of this Act, including a request made by the Director-General in terms of section 43(2) or a recommendation made by the Director-General in terms of section 44(b);
(g)imposing a fine in accordance with Schedule 1 for a contravention of certain provisions of this Act;
(h)reviewing an administrative action in terms of this Act on any grounds that are permissible in law;[paragraph (h) substituted by section 19(a) of Act 47 of 2013]
(i)in an appeal under section 40, confirming, varying or setting aside all or part of an order made by the Director-General in terms of section 39; and
(j)dealing with any matter necessary or incidental to performing its functions in terms of this Act.
(2)If the Labour Court decides that an employee has been unfairly discriminated against, the Court may make any appropriate order that is just and equitable in the circumstances, including—
(a)payment of compensation by the employer to that employee;
(b)payment of damages by the employer to that employee;
(c)an order directing the employer to take steps to prevent the same unfair discrimination or a similar practice occurring in the future in respect of other employees;
(d)an order directing an employer, other than a designated employer, to comply with Chapter III as if it were a designated employer;
(e)an order directing the removal of the employer’s name from the register referred to in section 41; and
(f)the publication of the Court’s order.
(3)The Labour Court, in making any order, may take into account any delay on the part of the party who seeks relief in processing a dispute in terms of this Act.
(4)If the Labour Court declares that the medical testing of an employee as contemplated in section 7 is justifiable, the court may make any order that it considers appropriate in the circumstances, including imposing conditions relating to—
(a)the provision of counselling;
(b)the maintenance of confidentiality;
(c)the period during which the authorisation for any testing applies; and
(d)the category or categories of jobs or employees in respect of which the authorisation for testing applies.
(5)A fine payable in terms of this Act must be paid into the National Revenue Fund reffered to in section 213 of the Constitution.[subsection (5) added by section 19(b) of Act 47 of 2013]

Part C – Protection of employee rights

51. Protection of employee rights

(1)No person may discriminate against an employee who exercises any right conferred by this Act.
(2)Without limiting the general protection conferred by subsection (1), no person may threaten to do, or do any of the following:
(a)Prevent an employee from exercising any right conferred by this Act or from participating in any proceedings in terms of this Act; or
(b)prejudice an employee because of past, present or anticipated—
(i)disclosure of information that the employee is lawfully entitled or required to give to another person;
(ii)exercise of any right conferred by this Act; or
(iii)participation in any proceedings in terms of this Act.
(3)No person may favour, or promise to favour, an employee in exchange for that employee not exercising any right conferred by this Act or not participating in any proceedings in terms of this Act.
(4)Nothing in this section precludes the parties to a dispute arising out of an alleged breach of any right conferred by this Part, from concluding an agreement to settle the dispute.
(5)For the purposes of this section "employee" includes a former employee or an applicant for employment.

52. Procedure for disputes

(1)If there is a dispute about the interpretation or application of this Part, any party to the dispute may refer it in writing to the CCMA.
(2)The CCMA must attempt to resolve a dispute referred to it in terms of this Part through conciliation.
(3)If the dispute remains unresolved after conciliation—
(a)any party to the dispute may refer it to the Labour Court for adjudication; or
(b)all the parties to the dispute may consent to arbitration of the dispute by the CCMA.
(4)In respect of a dispute in terms of this Part, the relevant provisions of Part C and D of Chapter VII of the Labour Relations Act apply, read with the changes required by the context.

Chapter VI
General provisions

53. State contracts

(1)Every employer that makes an offer to conclude an agreement with any organ of state for the furnishing of supplies or services to that organ of state or for the hiring or letting of anything—
(a)must—
(i)if it is a designated employer, comply with Chapters II and III of this Act; or
(ii)if it is not a designated employer, comply with Chapter II of this Act; and
(b)attach to that offer either—
(i)a certificate in terms of subsection (2) which is conclusive evidence that the employer complies with the relevant Chapters of this Act; or
(ii)a declaration by the employer that it complies with the relevant Chapters of this Act, which, when verified by the Director-General, is conclusive evidence of compliance.
(2)An employer referred to in subsection (1) may request a certificate from the Minister confirming its compliance with Chapter II, or Chapters II and III, as the case may be.
(3)A certificate issued in terms of subsection (2) is valid for 12 months from the date of issue or until the next date on which the employer is obliged to submit a report in terms of section 21, whichever period is the longer.
(4)A failure to comply with the relevant provisions of this Act is sufficient ground for rejection of any offer to conclude an agreement referred to in subsection (1) or for cancellation of the agreement.[subsection (4) amended by deletion of footnote 7 by section 15 of Act 4 of 2022]
(5)The Minister may in the code of good practice set out factors that must be taken into account by any person assessing whether an employer complies with Chapter II or Chapter III.[subsection (5) added by section 20 of Act 47 of 2013]
(6)The Minister may only issue a certificate in terms of subsection (2) if the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)the employer has complied with a numerical target set in terms of section 15A that applies to that employer;
(b)in respect of any target with which the employer has not complied, the employer has raised a reasonable ground to justify its failure to comply, as contemplated by section 42(4);
(c)the employer has submitted a report in terms of section 21;
(d)there has been no finding by the CCMA or a court within the previous 12 months that the employer breached the prohibition on unfair discrimination in Chapter 2; and
(e)the CCMA has not issued an award against the employer in the previous 12 months for failing to pay the minimum wage in terms of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2018 (Act No. 9 of 2018).
[subsection (6) added by section 12 of Act 4 of 2022]

54. Codes of good practice

(1)The Minister may, on the advice of the Commission—
(a)issue any code of good practice8; and8This is an enabling Act. The codes of good practice are intended to provide employers with information that may assist them in implementing this Act, particularly Chapter III. Issues that are likely to be the subject of codes include the following—the preparation of employment equity plans;advertising, recruitment procedures and selection criteria;special measures to be taken in relation to persons with disabilities including benefit schemes;special measures to be taken in relation to persons with family responsibilities;sexual harassment and racial harassment;internal procedures to resolve disputes about the interpretation or application of this Act; and sector-specific issues;guidelines for employees on the prioritisation of certain designated groups.
(b)change or replace any code of good practice.
(2)Any code of good practice, or any change to, or replacement of, a code of good practice must be published in the Gazette.

55. Regulations

(1)The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette and on the advice of the Commission, make any regulation regarding—
(a)any matter that this Act requires or permits to be prescribed; and
(b)any administrative or procedural matters that may be necessary or expedient to achieve the proper and effective administration of this Act.
(2)The Minister may by notice in the Gazette make a regulation providing for separate and simplified forms and procedures in respect of the obligations created by sections 19, 20, 21, 25 and 26 for employers that employ fewer than 150 employees.[subsection (2) substituted by section 21 of Act 47 of 2013]

56. Delegations

(1)The Minister may delegate any power conferred, or assign any duty imposed, upon the Minister in terms of this Act, except the powers and duties contemplated in sections 29(1), (5) and (7), 54, 55, 59(4) and 61(4).[subsection (1) substituted by section 22 of Act 47 of 2013]
(2)A delegation or assignment must be in writing and may be subject to any conditions or restrictions determined by the Minister.
(3)The Minister may at any time—
(a)withdraw a delegation or assignment made in terms of subsection (1); and
(b)withdraw or amend any decision made by a person exercising a power or performing a duty delegated or assigned in terms of subsection (1).
(4)The Director-General may delegate any power conferred, or assign any duty imposed, upon the Director-General in terms of this Act, to any employee in the Department.
(5)Subsections (2) and (3) apply with the changes required by the context to any delegation or assignment by the Director-General under subsection (4).

57. Temporary employment services

(1)For purposes of Chapter III of this Act, a person whose services have been procured for, or provided to, a client by a temporary employment service is deemed to be the employee of that client, where that person’s employment with the client is of indefinite duration or for a period of three months or longer.
(2)Where a temporary employment service, on the express or implied instructions of a client, commits an act of unfair discrimination, both the temporary employment service and the client are jointly and severally liable.

58. Designation of organs of state

The President must, within six months after the commencement of this Act, and after consultation with the Minister responsible for the Public Service and Administration, publish a notice in the Gazette listing every designated employer within any organ of state.

59. Breach of confidentiality

(1)Any person who discloses any confidential information acquired in the performance of a function in terms of this Act, commits an offence.
(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if the information—
(a)is disclosed to enable a person to perform a function in terms of this Act; or
(b)must be disclosed in terms of this Act, any other law or an order of court.
(3)A person convicted of an offence in terms of this section may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding R30 000,00.[subsection (3) substituted by section 23 of Act 47 of 2013]
(4)The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, amend the maximum amount of the fine referred to in subsection (3) in order to counter the effect of inflation.[subsection (4) substituted by section 23 of Act 47 of 2013]

60. Liability of employers

(1)If it is alleged that an employee, while at work, contravened a provision of this Act, or engaged in any conduct that, if engaged in by that employee’s employer, would constitute a contravention of a provision of this Act, the alleged conduct must immediately be brought to the attention of the employer.
(2)The employer must consult all relevant parties and must take the necessary steps to eliminate the alleged conduct and comply with the provisions of this Act.
(3)If the employer fails to take the necessary steps referred to in subsection 2, and it is proved that the employee has contravened the relevant provision, the employer must be deemed also to have contravened that provision.
(4)Despite subsection (3), an employer is not liable for the conduct of an employee if that employer is able to prove that it did all that was reasonably practicable to ensure that the employee would not act in contravention of this Act.

61. Obstruction, undue influence and fraud

(1)No person may—
(a)obstruct or attempt to improperly influence any person who is exercising a power or performing a function in terms of this Act; or
(b)knowingly give false information in any document or information provided to the Director-General or a labour inspector in terms of this Act.
(2)No employer may knowingly take any measure to avoid becoming a designated employer.
(3)A person who contravenes a provision of this section commits an offence and may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding R30 000,000.[subsection (3) substituted by section 24 of Act 47 of 2013]
(4)The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, amend the maximum amount of the fine referred to in subsection (3) in order to counter the effect of inflation.[subsection (4) substituted by section 24 of Act 47 of 2013]

62. This Act binds State

This Act binds the State.

63. Application of Act when in conflict with other laws

If any conflict relating to a matter dealt with in this Act arises between this Act and the provisions of any other law other than the Constitution or an Act of Parliament expressly amending this Act, the provisions of this Act prevail.

64. Repeal of laws and transitional arrangements

Each of the laws referred to in the first two columns of Schedule 2 is repealed to the extent specified opposite that law in the third column of that Schedule.

64A. ***

[section 64A inserted by section 26 of Act 47 of 2013 and repealed by section 13 of Act 4 of 2022]

65. Short title and commencement

(1)This Act is called the Employment Equity Act, 1998.
(2)This Act takes effect on a date to be determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette. The President may determine different dates in respect of different provisions of this Act.
(3)If, in terms of subsection (2), different dates are determined for particular provisions of this Act—
(a)Schedule 2 must take effect at the same time as section 6(1) takes effect; and
(b)a reference in a provision of this Act to a time when this Act took effect must be construed as a reference to the time when that provision takes effect.

Schedule 1

Maximum permissible fines that may be imposed for contravening this Act

[Schedule 1 commenced on 1 December 1999 by Proclamation R115 of 1999]This Schedule sets out the maximum fine that may be imposed in terms of this Act for the contravention of certain provisions of this Act.
Previous contraventionContravention of any provision of sections 16, (read with 17), 19, 22, 24, 25, 26 and 43(2)Contravention of any provisions of sections 20, 21, 23 and 44(b)
No previous contraventionR1 500 000The greater of R1 500 000 or 2% of the employer's turnover
A previous contravention in respect of the same provisionR1 800 000The greater of R1 800 000 or 4% of the employer's turnover
A previous contravention within the previous 12 months or two previous contraventions in respect of the same provision within three yearsR2 100 000The greater of R2 100 000 or 6% of the employer's turnover
Three previous contraventions in respect of the same provision within three yearsR2 400 000The greater of R2 400 000 or 8% of the employer's turnover
Four previous contraventions in respect of the same provision within three yearsR2 700 000The greater of R2 700 000 or 10% of the employer's turnover
[Schedule 1 substituted by section 27 of Act 47 of 2013]

Schedule 2

Laws repealed

[Schedule 2 commenced on 9 August 1999 by Proclamation R115 of 1999]
Number and year of lawShort titleExtent of repeal
Act No. 66 of 1995Labour Relations Act, 1995Item 2(1)(a), 2(2) and 3(4)(a) of Schedule 7

Schedule 3

Transitional arrangements

[Schedule 3 commenced on 9 August 1999 by Proclamation R115 of 1999]
1.DefinitionsIn this Schedule, unless the context indicates otherwise—"pending" means existing immediately before this Act came into operation; and"repealed provisions of the Labour Relations Act" means the provisions of the Labour Relations Act repealed by Schedule 2.
2.Disputes arising before commencement of this ActAny dispute contemplated in item (2)(1)(a) of Schedule 7 of the Labour Relations Act that arose before the commencement of this Act, must be dealt with as if the repealed provisions of the Labour Relations Act had not been repealed.
3.Courts
(1)In any pending dispute contemplated in item (2)(1)(a) of Schedule 7 of the Labour Relations Act in respect of which the Labour Court or the Labour Appeal Court had jurisdiction and in respect of which proceedings had not been instituted before the commencement of this Act, proceedings must be instituted in the Labour Court or Labour Appeal Court (as the case may be) and dealt with as if the repealed provisions of the Labour Relations Act had not been repealed.
(2)Any dispute contemplated in item (2)(1)(a) of Schedule 7 of the Labour Relations Act in respect of which proceedings were pending in the Labour Court or Labour Appeal Court must be proceeded with as if the repealed provisions of the Labour Relations Act had not been repealed.
(3)Any pending appeal before the Labour Appeal Court must be dealt with by the Labour Appeal Court as if the repealed provisions of the Labour Relations Act had not been repealed.
(4)When acting in terms of subitems (1) to (3), the Labour Court or Labour Appeal Court may perform or exercise any function or power that it had in terms of the repealed provisions of the Labour Relations Act.

Schedule 4

[Schedule 4 substituted by section 28 of Act 47 of 2013 and repealed by section 14 of Act 4 of 2022]
▲ To the top

History of this document

01 January 2025 this version
Commenced
01 August 2014
Commenced
Read this version
28 February 2003
Read this version
20 February 2003
Read this version
01 December 1999
09 August 1999
14 May 1999
19 October 1998
Read this version
12 October 1998
Assented to

Cited documents 9

Act 9
1. Labour Relations Act, 1995 2007 citations
2. Health Professions Act, 1974 1011 citations
3. Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 989 citations
4. Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 711 citations
5. Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 635 citations
6. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 595 citations
7. Unemployment Insurance Act, 1966 240 citations
8. National Minimum Wage Act, 2018 20 citations
9. National Economic, Development and Labour Council Act, 1994 9 citations

Documents citing this one 547

Gazette 451
1. Eastern Cape Provincial Gazette dated 2008-03-13 number 1841
2. Eastern Cape Provincial Gazette dated 2009-07-31 number 2166
3. Eastern Cape Provincial Gazette dated 2014-03-27 number 3146
4. Free State Provincial Gazette dated 2022-01-28 number 85
5. Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2000-02-25 number 15
6. Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2014-03-27 number 68
7. Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2020-09-30 number 182
8. Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2020-11-04 number 211
9. Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2021-06-17 number 198
10. Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2021-10-27 number 366
Judgment 76
1. Bato Star Fishing (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Others [2004] ZACC 15 (12 March 2004) 128 citations
2. National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [1999] ZACC 17 (2 December 1999) 81 citations
3. Chirwa v Transnet Limited and Others [2007] ZACC 23 (28 November 2007) 50 citations
4. MEC for Education: Kwazulu-Natal and Others v Pillay [2007] ZACC 21 (5 October 2007) 43 citations
5. Masetlha v President of Republic of South Africa and Another [2007] ZACC 20 (3 October 2007) 42 citations
6. My Vote Counts NPC v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others [2015] ZACC 31 (30 September 2015) 41 citations
7. South African Police Service v Solidarity obo Barnard [2014] ZACC 23 (2 September 2014) 21 citations
8. Minister of Finance and Other v Van Heerden [2004] ZACC 3 (29 July 2004) 20 citations
9. Hoffmann v South African Airways [2000] ZACC 17 (28 September 2000) 19 citations
10. Pretorius and Another v Transport Pension Fund and Another [2018] ZACC 10 (25 April 2018) 14 citations
Government Notice 9
1. COVID-19 Occupational Health and Safety measures in workplaces COVID-19 (C19 OHS), 2020
2. Code of Good Practice: Managing Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the Workplace
3. Consolidated COVID-19 Direction on Health and Safety in the Workplace
4. Consolidated Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in Certain Workplaces
5. Consolidated Directions on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in Certain Workplaces
6. Directions Regarding e-Commerce Sales During Alert Level 4 of the COVID-19 National State of Disaster
7. Employment Equity Regulations, 2014
8. Regulations under Section 43(3) of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013
9. Rules regulating the conduct of the proceedings of the Labour Court, 2024
Act 7
1. Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 635 citations
2. Skills Development Act, 1998 608 citations
3. National Health Act, 2003 455 citations
4. Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 215 citations
5. Protected Disclosures Act, 2000 98 citations
6. Public Procurement Act, 2024 1 citation
7. Gauteng Township Economic Development Act, 2022
By-law 2
1. Informal Trading By-law, 2009
2. Informal Trading By-law, 2017
Case summary 1
1. Case Summary: Hoffmann v South African Airways (CCT 17/00) [2000] ZACC 17 (28 September 2000)
Provincial Notice 1
1. Western Cape Ambulance Services Regulations, 2012

Subsidiary legislation

Title
Date
Employment Equity Regulations, 2014: Amendment
Labour and Employment
Government Notice R1057 of 2019 8 August 2019
Labour and Employment
Employment Equity Regulations, 2014
Labour and Employment
Government Notice R595 of 2014 8 August 2019
Labour and Employment