28 July 2026
South Africans have been given an opportunity to influence how employment equity is implemented in workplaces across the country after the Department of Employment and Labour opened public consultations on a revised Code of Good Practice, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The draft document, published for public comment on 24 July 2026, gives businesses, organised labour, workplace representatives and members of the public 60 days to share their views before the code is finalised.
The review comes as employment equity remains one of South Africa’s most debated labour issues, with employers continuing to balance legal compliance, transformation goals and practical workplace realities.
Employment equity plans play a key role in helping employers address workplace inequalities while promoting fair representation across different occupational levels.
The revised Code of Good Practice is designed to help employers understand how to prepare, implement and monitor these plans in accordance with the Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), including subsequent amendments and related regulations.
Rather than introducing a completely new legal framework, the updated code aims to provide clearer guidance on applying existing employment equity requirements consistently across workplaces.
The proposed code outlines the full process of employment equity planning and includes guidance on:
The department says the guidance is intended to support employers and employees in applying employment equity requirements in a practical and effective manner within their own workplace environments.
The revised code applies to designated employers—businesses and organisations employing 50 or more employees that are legally required to prepare and implement employment equity plans.
These employers must develop their plans through consultation with representative trade unions, employees or elected employee representatives, as required under the Employment Equity Act and its regulations.
The code has been issued under Section 54 of the Act and should be read alongside other employment equity codes, broader labour legislation, the Constitution and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act.
The Department of Employment and Labour is encouraging all interested stakeholders to make use of the consultation period by submitting written comments on the draft.
Public participation is a key part of South Africa’s law-making and regulatory process, allowing businesses, labour organisations, civil society groups and individual citizens to highlight practical concerns before policies are finalised.
For employers, this consultation provides an opportunity to help shape guidance that could influence how employment equity plans are implemented in workplaces for years to come.
The public has 60 days from the publication date to submit written comments.
Comments can be emailed to:
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