Firms in hot water over AA

Criminal charges laid against 200 companies * CHRISTOF MALETSKY THE Employment Equity Commission has laid criminal charges against more than 200 Namibian companies for failing to comply with the law.

Employment Equity Commissioner Vilbard Usiku said yesterday they were working closely with the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Namibian Police to finalise the cases. “Sooner than later, the relevant employers will appear before the court.It’s not something we want to do, but once it happens, it will send the right message to the rest,” Usiku said.He was responding to questions at a function where Labour Minister Alpheus !Naruseb announced that the threshold for companies to submit affirmative action reports has been lowered from 50 or more employees to 25 or more.That means that all companies who employ 25 or more employees will have to submit reports.NO MORE ‘HIBERNATING’ The decision, gazetted recently, came into effect immediately.!Naruseb said the reduction of the threshold did not affect the submission dates and newly affected companies will have until January 2008 to submit their first affirmative action plan and report.”I am informed by the Employment Equity Commission that some of the relevant employers identified in 1999 are still in hiding and did not submit their affirmative action plan and report as required by the law,” the Minister said.He called on those who were “still hibernating” to start complying with the law.”The Ministry of Labour will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to identify the culprits so that they are brought to book,” !Naruseb said.In a recent report tabled in the National Assembly, the EEC identified 213 cases of non-compliance, of which 155 cases were opened with the Police.Usiku said the number had since gone past 200.He also confirmed that Parliament conducted hearings on the slow progress of the implementation of affirmative action in Namibia where stakeholders such as the Namibian Employers’ Federation had submitted comments.He said the report will be tabled soon.!Naruseb said the EEC will provide necessary details and assistance to the newly identified employers in order to enable them to fulfil their obligations.”We have decided to reduce the threshold in response to a popular demand from members of the public who have been calling on Government to expand the scope of affirmative action coverage,” the Minister said.Many of those who fail to comply with the AA requirements complained about the small skills pool in the country.!Naruseb said there was no disagreement with that.”The question, however, is whether the stakeholders, and in particular the relevant employers, are doing enough to help address the issue.Relevant employers have the opportunity to do so through the three-year affirmative action plan to be submitted to the Commission,” he said.In the past, the EEC argued that it did not have enough powers to prosecute companies that failed to comply with the law.”Sooner than later, the relevant employers will appear before the court.It’s not something we want to do, but once it happens, it will send the right message to the rest,” Usiku said.He was responding to questions at a function where Labour Minister Alpheus !Naruseb announced that the threshold for companies to submit affirmative action reports has been lowered from 50 or more employees to 25 or more.That means that all companies who employ 25 or more employees will have to submit reports.NO MORE ‘HIBERNATING’ The decision, gazetted recently, came into effect immediately.!Naruseb said the reduction of the threshold did not affect the submission dates and newly affected companies will have until January 2008 to submit their first affirmative action plan and report.”I am informed by the Employment Equity Commission that some of the relevant employers identified in 1999 are still in hiding and did not submit their affirmative action plan and report as required by the law,” the Minister said.He called on those who were “still hibernating” to start complying with the law.”The Ministry of Labour will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to identify the culprits so that they are brought to book,” !Naruseb said.In a recent report tabled in the National Assembly, the EEC identified 213 cases of non-compliance, of which 155 cases were opened with the Police.Usiku said the number had since gone past 200.He also confirmed that Parliament conducted hearings on the slow progress of the implementation of affirmative action in Namibia where stakeholders such as the Namibian Employers’ Federation had submitted comments.He said the report will be tabled soon.!Naruseb said the EEC will provide necessary details and assistance to the newly identified employers in order to enable them to fulfil their obligations.”We have decided to reduce the threshold in response to a popular demand from members of the public who have been calling on Government to expand the scope of affirmative action coverage,” the Minister said.Many of those who fail to comply with the AA requirements complained about the small skills pool in the country.!Naruseb said there was no disagreement with that.”The question, however, is whether the stakeholders, and in particular the relevant employers, are doing enough to help address the issue.Relevant employers have the opportunity to do so through the three-year affirmative action plan to be submitted to the Commission,” he said.In the past, the EEC argued that it did not have enough powers to prosecute companies that failed to comply with the law.