Brigitte Weidlich
2 December 2008
MORE companies have submitted their employment equity reports this year.
In its latest report, tabled in Parliament last week, the Employment Equity Commission (EEC) says 506 companies sent in their reports - a 68 per cent increase - between April 2007 and March 2008.
It attributed this to the fact that the requirements for the reports had changed.
Since last year, companies employing 25 and more people must submit their affirmative action reports.
Previously the threshold was at 50 employees.
The AA reports indicate the number and percentage of previously racially advantaged and disadvantaged people employed, also at top management and executive level, and should reflect changes in favour of previously disadvantaged Namibians.
The EEC reviewed 514 reports covering 138 386 employees, representing an increase of 23 per cent, according to Employment Equity Commissioner Vilbard Usiku.
However, 123 employers failed to submit their reports, which is against the law and they were charged.
The EEC further found that 24 Government ministries and agencies have transgressed and they are being investigated.
The percentage of previously racially disadvantaged people in executive positions dropped from 31 to 27 per cent in the review period.
Out of 662 executive director positions, including 101 foreigners, only 139 were held by previously disadvantaged men and 43 such women, compared to 322 racially advantaged men and 52 women.
"Women in top positions came only to 16 per cent and people with disabilities employed in total accounted for 0,4 per cent," the report stated.
According to Commissioner Usiku, supervisory employment levels had been skewed with regard to the representation of whites and previously disadvantaged Namibians [at Independence].
"The situation is still far from perfect the white employees proportionally enjoyed more than their fair share of representation at executive and management levels during the review period," Usiku stated.
"The EEC will not relax its guard and will continue to guide unco-operative employers with a firm hand through rigorous enforcement of the provisions of the Affirmative Action law until satisfactory progress has been achieved."
According to the over 500 reports analysed, 34 641 people were recruited of which 93 per cent were from a previously disadvantaged background and 45 per cent of those were employed at executive and management levels.
Termination of employment for the same period came to 24 034 employees leaving their job, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the previous reporting year.
About 88 per cent of the job terminations were people of disadvantaged background, while 8 per cent where white.
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