New employment equity policy

At its May 5 meeting, the UCT Council approved a new employment equity policy for the university.

In addition to the existing Joint Consultative Forum on Employment Equity (JCFEE), this new policy will lead to the establishment of employment equity forums in faculties and PASS departments.

These forums will be used to monitor the progress of employment equity throughout the institution.

The new policy will also ensure that employment equity is a key performance area for the vice-chancellor and senior leaders with executive accountability.

Faculties and PASS departments are now required to set equity targets for each year of their employment equity plans.

These individual plans must be submitted to the HR department by July 15, for consolidation into a university-wide employment equity plan, which will then be taken to Council for approval. Council will also receive regular reports to facilitate effective monitoring.

An on-line version of the new policy can be viewed at www.hr.uct.ac.za under the policy section.