The Department of Labour (DOL) recently updated the Employment Equity (EE) Online Portal, and since the update many businesses, consultants, and payroll teams nationwide have reported significant system issues that may affect the accuracy of submissions.
As we progress through the 2025 reporting cycle, it is increasingly important for employers to be aware of these potential risks—and to take proactive steps to protect themselves should system errors occur.
System Glitches Noted Since the Update
In the course of the EE work we conduct, several recurring issues have been observed across different employer profiles. These include:
- Incorrect Profile Access
In some cases, logging in with the correct EE number and password has opened a completely different employer’s profile, even where there is no connection between the two companies. - Reports Reflecting Different Numbers
When downloading the EE reports, the system has on occasion produced different figures across the three reports for the same employer. - Fields Not Saving
Data that appears to save—such as Senior Management allocations—sometimes reverts to the previous figures when the profile is reopened. - Captured Data Changing After Verification
Employers have reported that after capturing, saving, and even re-verifying updates, the system has later reverted to the original (and sometimes incorrect) numbers. This creates substantial risk where the employer believes the submission is correct, only to find that the portal has altered it without any notification.
Impact on Employers: A Serious Compliance Concern
We have raised these issues directly with the Department of Labour. Unfortunately, the response received is that once a submission is finalised, nothing can be done to correct system-driven errors.
Furthermore, the DOL has indicated that employers may still be held liable for incorrect submissions—even when the error is caused by the portal and not by the employer.
This presents a very real compliance risk for businesses, particularly given that the EE Act allows for fines for inaccurate or incomplete reporting.
What Employers Should Do
While the system challenges are outside the employer’s control, there are steps you can take to safeguard your organisation if your submission is ever questioned:
1. Keep detailed evidence of your accurate data
This should include:
- Screenshots of data entered before submission
- Screenshots of finalised reports showing discrepancies
- Saved copies of your EEA2, EEA4, and other source documents
- A record of any changes made prior to submission
2. Report system issues immediately
Log any faults with the DOL and retain the reference or email trail as proof that you raised the concern prior to submission.
3. Perform a final sense-check before submission
Where possible, cross-check all totals, occupational levels, and numeric breakdowns against your internal data. If figures have changed unexpectedly, document it.
4. Keep a compliance file
Maintain all evidence in a central folder to demonstrate due diligence should an audit or enforcement action arise.
Conclusion
The updated EE portal is currently presenting challenges that can compromise the accuracy of submissions. Until these issues are fully resolved by the Department of Labour, employers should take every possible step to document their work, verify their data, and keep evidence that supports the correctness of their submission.
If you need guidance on navigating these system problems or would like support with your Employment Equity reporting process, our team is available to assist.