Draft Employment Equity Amendment Bill: Call for Public Comment

Posted 30 April 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Labour

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: A draft Employment Equity Amendment Bill has been proposed to address wage gaps and mandate pay transparency in the workplace.

In terms of the procedurally required explanatory summary published in the Government Gazette, a notice has been issued regarding the intention to introduce a draft Bill to amend the Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998. The notice, gazetted by Build One South Africa (BOSA) deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, calls for public input on the proposed legislation by 30 May 2026.

The draft Bill seeks to curb employment practices that prevent the realisation of equal pay for work of equal value. According to the explanatory summary, the proposed amendments are designed to address persistent salary disparities based on race, gender, and disability. Key objectives of the draft legislation include:

  • Mandating pay transparency in job advertisements and internal salary structures;
  • Protecting employees who disclose salary information from victimisation;
  • Establishing robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with equal pay principles; and
  • Creating a more competitive and equitable job market by removing barriers to economic inclusion.

The proposed amendments aim to provide a legislative framework that decisively addresses the ‘cycles of economic exclusion’ caused by opaque remuneration practices.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: You will need to monitor the progression of this Bill to advise on the legalities of salary nondisclosure clauses in employment contracts and potential whistleblower protections for employees.
  • For your business: Your firm may eventually be required to disclose salary ranges in recruitment advertisements and ensure internal pay scales are transparent and accessible to all staff.
  • For your clients: Employers should begin conducting internal remuneration audits to identify and rectify any race, gender, or disability-based pay disparities before stricter enforcement mechanisms are enacted.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/employment-equity-bosa-to-tackle-negative-employment-practices

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