Deputy President Ramaphosa to deliver keynote address at the inaugural Employment Equity Awards Ceremony

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 15 October 2015, deliver the keynote address at the first Employment Equity Awards Gala Dinner hosted by the Department of Labour and the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE).

The event at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg, will recognise the achievements of employers in furthering the objectives of the Employment Equity Act and embracing the true spirit of transformation.

The Department of Labour and the CEE will use this opportunity to highlight the excellent role played by employers in developing and implementing strategies for:

· Promoting equal opportunity, diversity and fair treatment in employment and for the elimination of unfair discrimination;

· Implementing affirmative action measures to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups (i.e. black people, women and people with disabilities);

· Ensuring that suitable qualified people from designated groups have equal employment opportunities and are equitably represented in all occupational levels in the workplace; and,

· Transforming the workplace to achieve employment equity and diversity.

In this regard, the EE Awards will be conferred in categories such as state-owned enterprises, educational institutions, non-profit organisations, national, provincial and local government, and the private sector.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported by the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant and senior government officials.

Media are invited as follows:

Date: Thursday, 15 October 2015

Venue: Ballroom, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg

Time: 18h30

For enquiries please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria