The South African Government and the Solidarity Trade Union have both reached an amicable Settlement Agreement on the Employment Equity (EE) and Affirmative Action (AA) matter.
Employment and Labour Minister T.W. Nxesi said Wednesday's signing of the Settlement Agreement with the Solidarity Trade Union is a pinnacle in the history of social dialogue and employment equity not only in this country, but also globally, where the Government and the workers’ organisation / trade union with opposing policy views are able to reach an amicable settlement.
“It is important to highlight that Solidarity Trade Union has been critical of how Employment Equity (EE) and Affirmative Action (AA) is implement since the inception of the Employment Equity Act of 1998 (EEA). May I add that a number of their court cases, including those in the Constitutional Court, contributed to Case Law on EE and Affirmative Action in South Africa.
“Most importantly, the content and substance of the Settlement Agreement is within the framework of the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act, which serves as a catalyst towards building confidence in the policy interventions of Government to transform the labour market and create a sustainable and inclusive economy for the betterment of all,” said Minister Nxesi.
The Minister said this Settlement Agreement is critical to demystify and discredit the negative perceptions created maliciously in the media on the current EE Amendments, Affirmative Action, including the sector EE target regulations published for public comment.
“This Settlement Agreement comes in the midst of all the negative publicity, some Court cases and protests in vulnerable communities due to malicious and irresponsible incitement of racial divisions by opposition parties,” said Minister Nxesi.
For more information:
Teboho Thejane
Department of Employment and Labour
Tel.: +27 082 697 0694
Email: [email protected]