Affirmative action

A discussion paper on the Affirmative Action Act recommends reducing exemptions to the act, extending coverage to group training schemes and making companies which fail to comply with the act ineligible to receive government contracts or funding assistance.

The result of a review by the federal government's Affirmative Action Agency, the paper also recommends that a system of self-registration be introduced, requiring relevant employers to identify themselves to the agency, with penalties for failure to register.

Under the act, employers must submit yearly reports to the agency, describing their policies for encouraging women's participation and promotion.

The agency's director, Valerie Pratt, said the issue now was “how can employers best develop workplace programs that will be fully effective in achieving equal employment for women”.

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