Labour Department rejects claims that Bill will cost jobs
25 Feb 2011
The Department of Labour has dismissed media reports that jobs of 1.3 million coloureds and Indians could be at risk due to the proposed labour law amendments.
This follows a statement by trade union Solidarity that about 80 percent of all economically active coloured people will have to look for work in other parts of the country. It went on to say in KwaZulu-Natal, the looming amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which makes national rather than provincial demographics the determining factor in affirmative action, will result in about 300 000 people of Indian extraction losing their jobs.
Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant said: "We do not know the basis upon which they arrived at these figures. If that is their view, employment equity as it stands says when implemented, regional and national demographics must be taken into account, has not caused job losses among whites. In fact, whites have been over-represented for over 12 years.''
"It doesn't matter for Africans or Coloured workers, their representation is below their economically active population. The only reason we have put the proposal on the table is because employers wanted clarity on how to implement both regional and national demographics simultaneously.