Own a business? Make sure you're clued up on new employment equity rules

702 and CapeTalk's Aubrey Masango is joined by Johan Botes, Head of Employment and Compensation at Baker McKenzie.

Listen below:

If you're a business owner, you'll want to ensure you're clued up about the Employment Equity Regulations released earlier this month.

Certain employers must hit set diversity goals in all job levels by 2030. If they don’t, they'll face tough consequences.

The regulations were issued by the Department of Employment and Labour and are designed to redress the inequalities of the past.

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"Every employer in the country is subject to the employment provisions within the Employment Equity Act and the obligation to eradicate unfair employment discrimination."

- Johan Botes, Employment and Compensation - Baker McKenzie

Botes says it's important to note that not everyone who employs staff will be subject to the new regulations.

"Only some employers are subject to the obligation to implement affirmative action measures in the workplace."

- Johan Botes, Employment and Compensation - Baker McKenzie

It is these affirmative action measures which are the subject of the new regulations, and they are aimed at achieving equitable representation of certain 'designated persons'.

"Black people... Coloured people, and Indian people. Women... people with disabilities - those are designated people."

- Johan Botes, Employment and Compensation - Baker McKenzie

So, what exactly do the new regulations add to the existing legislation?

"What we see now with these amendments is the minister saying, 'I'm not going to continue to allow you as the employer to set targets. I am now going to impose targets.'"

- Johan Botes, Employment and Compensation - Baker McKenzie

"If we consider the slow rate of progress that we've achieved in the workplace over the last 30 years, then that largely informs the minister's view to say, 'I'm going to step in.'"

- Johan Botes, Employment and Compensation - Baker McKenzie

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full interview on the new Employment Equity Regulations.

ALSO READ: How companies create and implement Employment Equity plans