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The Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2022, and its accompanying Regulations will be rolled out in phases during 2025 and beyond. Employers, employees, and other stakeholders must note the key milestones below to remain compliant.

Key Implementation Phases & Timeframes

1. Sector Stakeholder Consultations on EE Targets

Finalised end February 2025: Finalisation of sector-specific EE targets through stakeholder consultations.

2. Publication of EE Regulations

Published 15 April 2025: Two sets of EE Regulations were published. View links below for more information.

• • General Administrative Regulations – includes EE reporting forms, EE Plan templates, enforcement tools, and the EE Certificate of Compliance template.
  • Regulations on five-year sector EE targets for designated employers.

3. Training & National EE Workshops

April – June 2025:

• Implementing the EE amendments.
• Using the EE Online System for reporting and obtaining the EE Certificate of Compliance.

• April 2025: Internal training for EE Labour Inspectors to build capacity on the amendments and the EE Online System.
• May – June 2025: National EE workshops/roadshows in all nine provinces, guiding employers, trade unions, HR practitioners, employees, and other stakeholders on:

Click here to find more details: Department of Employment and Labour partners with CCMA to examine the new Employment Equity amendments

Join our webinar on the 24^th of April, where we will discuss the EE Amendments and Regulations. Click here to register for FREE now.

4. Workplace Analysis & Development of New EE Plans

May – 31 August 2025

Designated employers must:

• Educate employees and management on the amendments and each party’s responsibilities to eliminate unfair discrimination.
• Review occupational level categorisation and the classification of persons with disabilities in line with the updated EEA9 and definition of disability.
• Re-evaluate EE committee composition—Section 16 now requires trade union representatives in consultations. Here with a link to register your committee members on our Employment Equity Training for Committee Members and Managers: Employment Equity for Organisational Transformation
• Analyse policies, procedures, and practices to identify barriers to achieving the published five-year sector targets.
• Develop new EE Plans aligned with the amendments, accounting for succession planning, staff movement trends, and upcoming retirements.
• Obtain formal CEO approval of the new Employment Equity Plan.

5. EE Reporting Period & EE Certificate of Compliance Issuance

1 September 2025 – 15 January 2026

• Submit base EE reports (EEA2 and EEA4) via the EE Online System.
• Qualifying employers will receive the first EE Certificate of Compliance.

6. First Assessment of Annual EE Targets Toward the Five-Year Sector Targets

2026 Reporting Period (1 September 2026 – 15 January 2027): Ongoing evaluation of employer progress in meeting sector-specific EE targets.

What Employers Should Do Now

✔ Educate employees and management on the amendments and each party’s responsibilities to eliminate unfair discrimination.

✔ Review occupational level categorisation and the classification of persons with disabilities in line with the updated EEA9 and definition of disability.

✔ Re-evaluate EE committee composition—Section 16 now requires trade union representatives in consultations.

✔ Analyse policies, procedures, and practices to identify barriers to achieving the published five-year sector targets.

✔ Develop new EE Plans aligned with the amendments, accounting for succession planning, staff movement trends, and upcoming retirements.

✔ Obtain formal CEO approval of the new Employment Equity Plan.

Labournet is the leading employer legislative compliance partner. Want to know more about how we can simplify compliance for you? Here’s how we help:

1. We get your governance in place – fast.
   We secure your senior EE manager, appoint and train your EE committee, draft all necessary letters, and get your meetings rolling smoothly.
2. We build an action-driven EE plan.
   We develop your 5-year Employment Equity Plan with quarterly checkpoints and align job titles to the new EEA9 levels so your data and strategy work hand-in-hand.
3. We conduct deep-dive diagnostics.
   We analyse your workforce profile, policies, and procedures to identify under-representation and hidden barriers—before the Department does.
4. We handle all your EE reporting end-to-end.
   We complete and e-file your EEA2 & EEA4 reports and track them until your Compliance Certificate is safely in your inbox.
5. We make sure you’re audit ready, always.
   From building evidence packs to being on-site during inspections, we’re by your side when DoEL arrives—no surprises, just sign-offs.

Transforming Workplaces, Advancing Equity.

Stay prepared. Stay compliant. Make a difference!