Parliament, Tuesday, 17 May 2022 – The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has passed three Bills at its virtual plenary sitting today, namely, the Division of Revenue Bill, the Employment Equity Amendment Bill and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Bill.

The Division of Revenue Bill was passed by the National Assembly (NA) in March this year and was sent to the NCOP for consideration. The Bill provides for equitable division of funds raised nationally among the national, provincial and local spheres of government for a particular financial year. It also determines each province’s fair share of the provincial share of revenue and any other allocations to provinces, local governments or municipalities from the national government’s revenue share.

The NA passed the Employment Equity Amendment Bill and sent it to the NCOP for concurrence last September. The Bill seeks to amend the Employment Equity Act, 1998, to empower the Minister of Employment and Labour to determine sectoral numerical targets. The numerical targets seek to ensure the equitable representation of suitably qualified people from designated groups (blacks, women and persons with disabilities) at all occupational levels in the workforce.

It also seeks to enhance the administration of the act, including the implementation of Section 53 that provides for the issuing of a certificate by the minister, confirming an employer’s compliance with Chapter II, or Chapters II and III, of the act, as the case may be, concerning the conclusion of State Contracts.

The Bill also aims to remove the requirement for psychological testing and similar assessments of employees to be certified by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and to remove a provision empowering non-designated employers to notify the Director-General of the Department of Labour that they intend to voluntarily comply with Chapter III of the Act.

The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Bill was also passed by the NA in September last year and sent to the NCOP for concurrence. The Bill seeks to amend the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 by amending and repealing specific definitions and sections. It provides for matters about the Board and its members and allows the Commissioner to perform certain functions that the Director-General previously performed.

The NCOP has passed the Bill with proposed amendments. The Bill will be sent back to the NA for concurrence.

The Division of Revenue and the Employment Equity Amendment Bills will now be sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for assent.

ISSUED BY PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 

Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo – 082 370 6930