South Africa’s history of colonialism and apartheid has created deep patterns of inequality and poverty. One of the ways in which the government has tried to address the high levels of inequality that characterise the South African labour market, is through an extensive process of legislative reform, which includes the Employment Equity Act (EEA) of 1998.

The EEA was enacted to achieve equity in the workplace by prohibiting unfair discrimination and by requiring the implementation of affirmative action measures to ensure the equitable representation of designated groups (blacks, women and disabled persons) in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce. The Act gives effect to the constitutional imperative for substantive equality in respect of the workplace.

One decade after the enactment of the EEA, this collection of essays evaluates its efficacy in achieving its stated goals. This is done against the background of comparative experiences elsewhere, in particular India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union.