Companies have until 15 January 2013 to compile and electronically submit their annual employment equity returns to the Department of Labour. The deadline for manual reports has already passed.
The easiest and most efficient way for companies to complete the forms is to visit the Department of Labour’s website (www.labour.gov.za) and make use of the Online Services to capture EE reports.
Philip Meyer, technology director at payroll and HR specialist Pastel Payroll, part of the Softline Group and Sage Group plc, says companies should be aware that once submitted, the forms may not be changed or amended in any way. “However guidance on how to correctly complete the forms is available from the Department of Labour’s website.”
Meyer adds that companies need to have a formal employment equity plan in place which provides the base for any EE report and consultation should take place with all relevant stakeholders before the forms are completed. The prescribed reporting forms are the EEA2 and the EEA4. Large employers are obliged to report every 12 months and small employers every second year. Chief executives are required to approve and authorise the EE reports before they are submitted.
“Companies should also note that the EEA2 and EEA4 forms must always be submitted together or the submission will be rejected and returned. Copies of these forms should be retained for the company records and to present to Department of Labour inspectors who may visit the company.”
The report also requires tables relating to numerical goals and targets, which essentially provide the workforce profile that the employer aims to achieve by the end of the next reporting period.
