BusinessLive reports that the cabinet has approved for public comment the publication of a draft law allowing sector-specific numerical targets to be set for employment equity.  

Currently the Employment Equity Act (EEA) provides for a system of self-imposed targets that companies set on the basis of the national economically active population.  The changes proposed in the Employment Equity Amendment Bill provide that the minister of labour, in consultation with the stakeholders of a particular sector, will set employment equity sector-specific numerical targets.  The bill also seeks to strengthen compliance mechanisms.  According to Tabea Kabinde, chair of the Employment Equity Commission, sector-specific targets were necessary because business was not achieving the demanding targets determined on the basis of the national economically active population.  She said it was considered desirable to set targets which were more achievable.  "Sector targets are more realistic to reach because they talk to what peers are achieving within the sector," Kabinde stated.

• Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive

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