The Department of Employment and Labour has published two sets of Employment Equity (EE) Regulations as of Tuesday, 15 April 2025, following the commencement of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, on 1 January 2025. The published Regulations include:

1. General Administrative Regulations. These regulations provide standardised reporting forms (EEA2 and EEA4 forms); templates for EE Analysis (EEA12) and EE Plans (EEA13); enforcement tools; and templates for the EE Certificate of Compliance, including the intention to withdraw the EE Certificate of Compliance. These Regulations offer implementation guidelines to assist employers and employees in interpreting and applying the provisions of the EE Amendment Act, of 2022, including streamlining compliance processes for designated and non-designated employers.

2. Regulations on Sector Numerical EE Targets. These Regulations establish the actual five-year sector numerical EE targets for designated groups across eighteen economic sectors for the four upper occupational levels (i.e., Top Management, Senior Management, Professionally Qualified/Middle Management, and Skilled Technical/Junior Management), including for persons with disabilities.

The introduction of sector-specific numerical EE targets is a significant component of section 15A of the EE Amendment Act, 2022, which empowers the Minister to regulate EE targets for the identified eighteen (18) economic sectors.

Furthermore, it is essential to highlight that designated employers with fifty (50) or more employees, including organs of state regardless of the number of employees, are required to immediately review and align their EE plans with these five-year sector-specific EE targets to ensure equitable representation of suitably qualified individuals from designated groups across all occupational levels.

In light of the above, employers with fewer than fifty (50) employees are no longer required to comply with Chapter III of the EEA regarding the preparation of EE Plans and submission of annual EE reports. However, these small employers are encouraged not to apply for de-registration through the DG Notification process (EEA14 form), as the Department will automate the process and maintain their details in a separate database, allowing them to request an EE Certificate of Compliance without having to re-register in the EE System.

Thus, the publication of these EE Regulations represents a pivotal step toward advancing transformation and inclusivity in the South African labour market. Employers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new regulatory framework to ensure compliance and alignment with employment equity objectives.

For further assistance and practical demonstrations on interpreting and implementing the EE amendments and sector EE targets, including requests for the EE Certificate of Compliance, the Department will host national EE workshops/roadshows during May and June 2025 in all nine provinces – details will be available at – www.labour.gov.za

Click here to download the Employment Equity Act Determination of sectoral numerical targets

Click here to download the Employment Equity Act Repeal of Employment Equity Regulations, 2014

Issued by the Department of Labour