SA’s Employers’ Associations to Oppose Racial Hiring

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The act, which became law in January 2025, sets hiring quotas for 18 economic sectors, from agriculture and mining to transport and construction. The aim is to increase employment for “designated groups” such as blacks, women, and those with disabilities.

The National Employers Association of SA (Neasa) and Afrikaans business organisation Sakeliga say they will combine forces to oppose new racial hiring policies in terms of the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA) as unconstitutional, unlawful, and harmful.

The act, which became law in January 2025, sets hiring quotas for 18 economic sectors, from agriculture and mining to transport and construction. The aim is to increase employment for “designated groups” such as blacks, women, and those with disabilities.

It requires employers with 50 or more employees to ensure their employment equity plans conform to the new sector-specific targets. These plans must be prepared and implemented from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2030.

The two organisations will launch an immediate joint legal challenge seeking an interdict against the operation of the regulations and targets introduced in terms of the act – and the act itself.

Employers with fewer than 50 employees are no longer required to prepare employment equity targets.

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The act has been criticised by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and trade union Solidarity as unconstitutional, reviving apartheid-era limits on job opportunities based on race. The DA estimates this could result in around 600,000 job losses.