Women working in male-dominated professions and environments face experiences that are unique to their counterparts in more gender-balanced and female-dominated professions. The nature of these experiences affects women’s integration and potential success in male- dominated professions. To enhance employment equity in historically male-dominated professions and environments, an understanding of women’s experiences in such environments is beneficial. The purpose of this research was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of women working within male-dominated professions and environments. This was an exploratory qualitative study conducted within the interpretive research paradigm. A purposive sample consisting of five women working in identified male-dominated professions and environments was utilised. In-depth interviews were conducted and data was analysed using grounded theory. The main findings indicate that the central theme pertinent to women working in male-dominated professions and environments pertains to the types of challenges inherent in their work settings. The main challenges found were as follows: discrimination and bias; physical and health-related difficulties experienced; negative emotions resulting from working in male-dominated environments; lack of real transformation; and work/life balance. This study provides current insight into the plight of women working in male-dominated professions and environments in South Africa. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

D.Phil / The Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act of 2003 and the Employment Equity Act of 1998 have disrupted the labour market in South Africa by accelerating the need to appoint senior black managers in organisations. There is at the same time an undersupply of candidates meeting the requirements because of the education system and job reservation policies under the apartheid government. One of the outcomes of the operating environment is a perception that there is an abnormally high job mobility rate among senior black managers. The South African Employment Equity Act of 1998 defines blacks as Coloureds, Indians and Africans. The biggest challenge facing corporate South Africa is to retain senior black skill. The research problem the study attempts to solve is to understand factors that lead to senior black managers‟ mobility. Little research has been done in this regard. The objective of the study is to present a model that can assist in better retention of senior black managers. The model will present solutions for any sub groups that may emerge. This study also investigates the perceptions of senior black managers with regard to factors that influence their decision to change jobs.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Labour Relations Management)--Vaal University of Technology / Sectoral Determination 7: Domestic Worker Sector was proclaimed by the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, and has stipulated the minimum employment conditions for the domestic worker sector since 1 September 2002. The purpose of this study evolved from the problem statement which clearly indicated the need for the assessment of awareness and compliance within the domestic worker sector. A detailed literature review enabled the researcher's orientation to the historical context of the sector as well as the need for transformation. Ultimately, the Determination's stipulations guided the assessment of both awareness (knowledge) and compliance (actions that correspond with legislative obligations) during an empirical review. A survey design was used to obtain responses from both domestic workers and employers of domestic workers, who were not necessarily in a direct employment relationship, within the Emfuleni Local Municipal District. Collected data was statistically captured and analysed. Desc1iptive statistics indicated that both employers and domestic workers have limited awareness with regard to the stipulations of Sectoral Determination 7. Results further indicated the difficulty in making a general pronouncement regarding compliance levels. It is suggested that compliance should be considered per individual stipulation of the Determination. The study concludes with the researcher's recommendation that more must be done to raise awareness within the sector amongst both employers of domestic workers and domestic workers. It was also recommended that more labour inspectors be made available not only to ensure the enforcement of Sectoral Dete1mination 7 (compliance) but also to facilitate the creation of continuous awareness.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Labour Relations Management)--Vaal University of Technology / When the South African authorities decided, in the 1970's, to recognize statutorily other Black workers who were engaged in other spheres of employment as employees, domestic workers were excluded from all Industrial Legislation. This resulted from the fact that domestic work, as an occupation, had been excluded from the definition of an employee. It is estimated that over one million people are engaged in this service, comprising eleven percent of overall employment in the informal sector of the South African economy. This significantly large sector of the labour market performs its work under some of the most oppressive working conditions and such exploitation is unchallenged, as it has been noted that some domestic workers do not sign contracts of employment with their employers on appointment, which can lead to insecurity in the domestic worker sector. The purpose of this research was to determine the efficiency of the contract of employment and its effect on the job security of domestic workers. Through a theoretical foundation, a number of studies have advocated that the contract of employment can be trusted to be the perfect instrument in securing jobs in the domestic sector. A survey was carried out for measuring job security. The research instruments used for data collection from 203 domestic workers, were interviews and questionnaires. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. The results of the empirical study are presented and discussed in detail. Findings of this study revealed, that the majority of domestic workers don't have contracts of employment while a very small percentage of domestic workers do have contracts. Conclusions drawn, indicated that domestic workers who have signed contracts, enjoy reasonable conditions of employment and employment benefits than those without contracts. Recommendations based on this study are that the government encourages a very strong Trade Union Movement in the domestic sector services. The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and/or the Department of Labour facilitates annual workshops for employers of domestic workers. The CCMA, Trade Unions and/or the Department of labour facilitate training programmes for domestic workers. The government makes it a binding norm, for every employer in the domestic sector, to conclude a contract of employment with his/her domestic worker and furnish such employee with a copy of the contract, regardless of the nature of services rendered by employee. Ongoing research on many aspects of domestic workers will enhance better conditions of employment in making the lawmakers aware of other hidden agendas that require attendance in the domestic sector.

A dissertation submitted to the Global Labour University in conformity with the requirements of a MA in Labour Policy and Globalisation School of Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg March 2016 / Understanding the subjective views of low skilled marginalised workers who occupy bottom ends of labour markets and are implicated in everyday precarious living and working conditions is crucial for advancing scholarship on precarity. This qualitative study grounded in a phenomenological theoretical framework highlights the disconnects between the academic understandings of precarity and an understanding of precariousness from Zimbabwean migrant security guards’ own perspective in South Africa’s Private Security Industry (PSI), Gauteng Province. Relying on data collected through a combination of an ethnographic experience in 2014 and in-depth face to face interviews I conducted from June 2015, this study examines the perceptions that migrant security guards have on precarity, the strategies and tactics they employ to navigate everyday precarious working and living conditions and most importantly, the rationale behind these workers continued stay and work under precarious situations. As workers with precarious backgrounds, the findings of this study reveals that migrant security guards treat wage employment instrumentally, a source of their livelihood that has led to improvements in their standards of living as interpreted by them. The strategies and tactics employed by these workers either individually or collectively are therefore rationally and tactically crafted so as not directly challenge and disrupt the existing structures (state, capital and law) but instead to survive within these structures so as not to jeopardise their main source of livelihood-wage employment. For migrant security guards, wage employment remains a vital tool for meeting their varied socio-economic and political objectives. This study therefore led to the conclusion that there is generally a mismatch between academic conceptualisation of precarity and the way marginalised and low skilled labour migrants interpret and understand circumstances. / GR2017

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has been the epitome of policy reform pervading South Africa (SA) since 1994, the end of apartheid. Often making media headlines, it inherently arrogates itself to all stakeholders engaged in commerce with/within SA. The impetus for the study ensued owing to recent (2013) changes to the B-BBEE legislative landscape. More specifically, the focus of the study was on one segment: Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs), operating within the same realm as Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). The rationale for such a focus stemmed from this market segment’s seemingly rigid response to such change, deemed to support this study’s results. The literature review embarked upon in Chapters 2 to 4, that is, collecting secondary data, provided for a solid foundation relative to a subject matter embedded with technical jargon and often driven by highly emotive/subjective inputs from stakeholders. The literature primarily drew from untested assumptions: these were mainly due to the high degree of contentiousness surrounding B-BBEE as subject matter, the lack of research (statistical results) relative to B-BBEE legislative change and more specifically, the lack of the latter relative to this study’s scope. The above introduction initiates the notion of there being inherent demarcations to this study, dictating the most relevant research design and methodology suited thereto. A pragmatic research philosophy was adopted, owing to its qualitative, exploratory enquiry. Furthermore, the unit of analysis, consisting of 16 samples, was conveniently selected. Although convenience sampling was regarded the most suitable approach to collecting data, it gave rise to the study’s biggest limitation: its inability to generalise findings. On that note, its findings were in line with the researcher’s precedential assumption upon its initiation: legislative change to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) lead(s) to non-compliance and impeded transformation goals. The results give rise to a plethora of valuable insights into the dynamics of the industry, not only for strategic direction to be set for/by stakeholders on both a micro and macro level, but also providing a solid foundation relative to further research to be embarked upon – a notion highly advocated in supporting the integration of sustainable transformation in modern South Africa (SA).

The political and economic pressures for transformation in South Africa have been documented in an array of policies, pieces of legislation, regulatory and statutory frameworks, and also in governance codes for both public and private companies. Specifically for the mining industry, the Mining Charter comprises of transformation targets and measurement criteria that are presented in a scorecard to be achieved by the mining industry by 2014. Additionally, the King reports on governance have specific requirements that listed companies must meet in terms of employment equity and demographic representation to achieve board diversity and independent boards. The aim of this study was to report on the board transformation status in the mining industry, as well as the progress that has been made towards meeting transformation targets. The 2011 annual reports were used to capture profiles and composition of board of directors in Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed mining companies. Interviews were used to gain insight on the transformation status, initiatives undertaken and challenges of transformation in the mining industry. The research findings from the analysis of board members demographic and career profiles shows that little has been achieved to ensure equal representation and diversity on the boards of directors. Further analysis of the status of transformation by JSE listed mining companies to realise transformation, shows that transformation in the mining industry is still a major challenge. Whilst some initiatives have been undertaken and some progress has been made, this study reveals that the barriers to transformation in the South African mining industry are racial issues and tensions based on colour, the lack of skills caused by the education system, a war for talent, a lack of mentorship and no stakeholder engagement between the mining industry and government / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2002 / Refer to the document

Thesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The discussion looks at the history of commercial sex and how it has evolved in South Africa. The discussion evaluates the challenges that commercial sex workers face in South Africa and argues that the dignity of sex workers as citizens of South Africa are infringed and it would seem that less is being done to protect these workers due to nature of their work. It is argued that sex workers are still entitled to the rights enshrined in the Constitution despite the illegality of sex work. This discussion argues further that sex work continues to exist in South Africa despite its illegality and it would be prudent to address the challenges that encourage sex work because the criminalization of this type of work does not seem to minimize sex work. The discussion further looks at the case of Kylie v CCMA which has been subject to much debate recently. The discussion also makes a comparative study with Germany and determines the lessons which South Africa can learn from this country regarding decriminalization of sex work.

Thesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The discussion looks at the history of commercial sex and how it has evolved in South Africa. The discussion evaluates the challenges that commercial sex workers face in South Africa and argues that the dignity of sex workers as citizens of South Africa are infringed and it would seem that less is being done to protect these workers due to nature of their work. It is argued that sex workers are still entitled to the rights enshrined in the Constitution despite the illegality of sex work. This discussion argues further that sex work continues to exist in South Africa despite its illegality and it would be prudent to address the challenges that encourage sex work because the criminalization of this type of work does not seem to minimize sex work. The discussion further looks at the case of Kylie v CCMA which has been subject to much debate recently. The discussion also makes a comparative study with Germany and determines the lessons which South Africa can learn from this country regarding decriminalization of sex work.