Solidarity, labour dept reach agreement after lengthy wrangle over EE laws. It leaves lawyers cold

Law firm Werksmans has poured cold water on an agreement reached between government and trade union Solidarity in June, stopping just short of calling it useless. 

Late last month, the Department of Labour and Solidarity published two separate statements announcing an amicable settlement, following Solidarity's complaint to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) regarding South Africa's implementation of employment equity legislation. 

While both signatories to the agreement on the use of race to fulfil employment equity targets have waxed lyrical about the deal they reached during June, Werksmans said it was not needed in the first place.