The effectiveness of the Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998) in the public service with reference to the Department of Agriculture 2000-2006 : a South African perspective

Abstract

The study involves an assessment of the effectiveness of Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 (EEA) in the South African public service, with specific reference to the Department of Agriculture (DoA) and problems the DoA encounters in realising the main objectives of the abovementioned Act. The research comprises both normative and empirical aspects of the EEA in the public service (specifically DoA). Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), in the agriculture sector has produced mixed results. There is a perception that the number of women in middle and senior management positions has slightly improved, as appears in the DoA organisational chart. Others perceive the Act as flawed in its design and implementation, due to the fact that the number of disabled employees in the middle and senior management levels is hardly visible on the organisational chart. The purpose of this research is to ascertain whether the DoA has been able to meet or implement the dictates of the EEA. Mostly, this research aims to look at ways in which the EEA can best be implemented, so that it functions as effectively as possible and to ensure that the Act yields the desired results. The fact that the DoA has not managed to reach the EEA target to employ disabled and women (though the number of women in senior positions has slightly improved) to senior positions, necessitates the need of this study. And mostly by the fact that EEA plays a pivotal role in ensuring equity in the DoA, which has in the past been perceived by some as the one dominated by a certain racial group. The specific objectives of this study are: <ul> <li>To explore difficulties that adversely impact on the effectiveness of the Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 in Department of Agriculture especially with regards to disabled officials.</li> <li>To determine if there is a disparity in the views of management and employees (both able-bodies and disabled employees) with regard to the effectiveness of Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 and problems experienced.</li> <li>To established levels of satisfaction of employees (designated groups)with the Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 and employees within the work environment.</li> </ul> This study will also make use of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Both Primary and Secondary research will be conducted to obtain the information needed to meet the objectives of the research. This research is important for the DoA because, the issue of EEA and other related issues such as Affirmative Action (AA) have been a thorny issue to others, while others embrace it. The importance of this research is further exacerbated by the fact that it sets forth a clear picture of the impact the Act in question made in its quest to ensure equity in the workplace. In summary this study attempts to shed some light on the effectiveness of EEA and to determine whether the desired effects of EEA have been achieved by the DoA.