Zuma assures job security of Indians in South Africa

Johannesburg, Mar 9 (PTI) South African President
Jacob Zuma has assured Indians in the country that they would
not lose their jobs due to proposed changes in employment
laws.
In a statement issued by the presidency, Zuma
assured members of the Indian and Coloured communities that
government would not enact or implement any legislation in
conflict with the Constitution and the non-racial ethos and
foundations of South Africa.
Zuma reaction comes in the wake of the controversial
statement made by Cabinet Spokesman Jimmy Manyi about an
oversupply of Indian labourers in KwaZulu-Natal province, and
in Western Cape, where the majority of Coloured communities
reside.
The comments raised concerns that Indians may have to
move to other provinces from their home base where their
forefathers first arrived as indentured labourers in 1860.
Zuma said he had met with the Minister of Labour
Mildred Oliphant, who had assured him the legislation was
intended to improve the employment prospects of the designated
groups and not to make it difficult for them to obtain
employment or to advance in their careers.
"These changes do not in any way affect negatively the
employment opportunities for the Coloured and/or Indian
population. In fact, it makes it easier for employers to
comply with the law and create more job opportunities for all
the designated groups.
"We have a duty to work together in both the private
and public sectors to ensure that employment equity
legislation succeeds to correct the wrongs of the past and
benefits Africans, coloureds, Indians, women, youth and
persons with disability," he added.
The president said that government remained fully
committed to the equality clauses in the Constitution and that
the State would not discriminate against anybody on the basis
of colour, race, religion and other aspects of diversity.
However, the 10th Commission on Employment Equity
Report released by the Department of Labour in July 2010
revealed that transformation in the workplace remained "very
slow".
The report indicated that 10 years after the
introduction of the act, white men continued to hold 63 per
cent of top management positions in the private sector, while
African women stood at 6 per cent and coloured and Indian
women were at one per cent each. message and any attachments contained in it.