‘Base jobs on merit’

JOBS should be based on merit and not skin colour!

That’s the response from some opposition parties in KZN following the release of the 22nd Commission for Employment Equity annual report last week.

According to the report, Indian South Africans are one of two groups that are over-represented in the workplace in relation to their economically active population (EAP). Whites were the other group.

The report was based on statistics from April 2021 to March 2022 and analysed information at six occupational levels.

These include top management, senior management, professionally qualified/middle management, skilled technical/junior management, semiskilled and unskilled.

The data showed that whites accounted for 63.2% of top management positions. This was followed by blacks (Africans) at 17%. Indian South Africans took up 10.9% of these positions and coloureds 5.9%.

Whites make up 51.4% of all senior managers. Indian South Africans are next at 12%.

In professionally qualified or middle management level and skilled technical or junior level, white, Indian and coloureds were also over-represented.

According to the commission, white and Indian South Africans were over-represented in jobs with skills, while black and coloured South Africans were under-represented. This was true in both the public service and the private sector.

However, at the unskilled level, blacks and coloureds made up most of the employees.

Thulas Nxesi, the Minister of Employment and Labour, said he hoped the employment equity amendments would change the situation.

“It cannot be business as usual while our people compete for space in the labour market,” said Nxesi.

The Employment Equity Amendment Bill was recently passed by the National Council of Provinces and sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for signing. The bill is expected to speed up transformation in the workplace because it allows for non-compliant businesses to be fined.

Ravi Pillay, the MEC for Economic Development in KZN, said transformation was crucial and it was important to measure progress in the workplace.

“Our apartheid past distorted our equal development as a people. So, transformation is a political, constitutional and moral imperative.

“We have come far since 1994. It is correct that we measure our progress as the report is doing.

“The important thing is to show progress and not complacency because that must invite reaction. We must examine root causes such as our education system but also deal with resistance.”

Pillay said one must guard against artificial cosmetic changes.

“This type of change does not help anyone and in fact does serious damage. A careful balance is required.

“Ultimately, we must have a meritocracy. We must also grow the economy so significantly that there is space and opportunity for everyone.”

Visvin Reddy, the leader of African Democratic Change, said after 28 years of democracy, skin colour should not be a factor.

“The Employment Equity Act is racist legislation and fancy words for the quota system.

“The race profile is not working in giving people homes. It is not creating jobs nor is it making neighbourhoods safer. It is time the government went back to the drawing board and removed any legislation that is racist.

“The ruling party will do itself a big favour if it dropped the race card and started to put people in positions of authority based on merit so that we can get the country working again.”

He said there were Indian and white people who were just as committed to making the country work.

Haniff Hoosen, a DA MP, said the government should stop focusing on race and look at work ethic, professionalism and hard work instead.

“We should all be working to build a country where if you are willing to work hard, the opportunities should be endless.

“Regrettably our government’s approach over the last 28 years has failed South Africa dismally. They have created a dependent society where more and more South Africans are waiting for handouts rather than getting down to work to build a better future for themselves.

“White and Indian South Africans have become the target of our useless government for decades now. Yet they are generally hard-working and want to make a meaningful contribution to society. This is why millions of qualified South Africans are working abroad. They simply can no longer take the abuse they receive from their own government.”

Wouter Wessels, Freedom Front Plus MP, said candidates for top and senior management positions should be appointed based on merit and not race.

“The lack of transformation in the private sector is, first of all, due to the lack of economic growth in the country.

“Transformation should be an organic process flowing from a prospering private sector where especially small businesses are able to thrive as a result of economic growth and proper service delivery.

“This is not the case under the current government. Instead of prioritising growing the economy and enabling private sector businesses to thrive to grow, prosper and transform, they repeat the failed recipe of restrictive labour legislation such as the Employment Equity Act.”

Another contributing factor to the lack of transformation in the workplace was the quality of education in South Africa, he said.

“The majority of rural learners are not enabled nor empowered by the education system. This renders many unemployable – yet another way in which the government fails in its own transformation mandate.”

He said the Employment Equity Act had been unsuccessful and forced cosmetic transformation on to businesses.

“They then compile reports on effectively their own failure as a government. Cosmetic workplace transformation should be removed from the agenda completely. Businesses should be left alone to employ and appoint whomever they choose based on merit and the government should focus on creating a conducive environment for them to do so.”