Navigating the latest B-BBEE Sector Codes with YES
The legal sector in South Africa plays a crucial role in upholding justice, promoting equality, and driving socio-economic transformation. To enhance inclusivity and promote black economic empowerment, the B-BBEE legal sector codes were officially promulgated on 20 September 2024. These updated codes require law firms and advocates to adopt inclusive practices and invest in skills development and enterprise growth. Understanding these changes is the first step in exploring how the Youth Employment Service (YES) can help legal companies level up on their B-BBEE scorecards.
What are the key updates to the legal sector codes?
The legal sector code updates call on law firms to create diverse, inclusive workplaces and invest in sustainable talent development, aligning with broader B-BBEE transformation objectives. This includes increasing representation, especially in leadership and partnership roles, encouraging law firms to support historically disadvantaged practices through mentorship and financial assistance, and requiring investment in skills development for emerging professionals.
One of the biggest risks that legal entities face is failing to meet this employment equity (EE) and management representation targets and dropping a level on their B-BBEE scorecard. This risk is compounded as the new codes don’t include a transition period. Law firms and advocates must act swiftly to comply with these updates to avoid disruptions and risks of non-compliance.
Where does YES fit in?
YES is the largest 12-month, full-time youth employment programme in the country. As a private sector led initiative, we tackle the country’s youth unemployment crisis by empowering businesses to create jobs for unemployed youth.
YES fosters accountability and quality through a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. We ensure that youth thrive in secure and productive work environments by implementing proactive and reactive measures. These measures provide valuable insights, enabling companies to maintain programme quality and accountability. Our dedicated team is ready to help your organisation drive tangible change in line with the updated legal sector codes.
By partnering with YES to create youth jobs, law firms can improve their B-BBEE score by up to two levels, as well as integrate into their EE/management representation targets.
There are two ways a business can participate in YES:
- Internal youth placement: Law firms can integrate youth within their organisation, equipping them with legal skills and creating leadership pipelines. This addresses the updated EE and management representation criteria, helping firms meet their goals for diversity and transformation.
- YES turnkey solution: The turnkey solution lets businesses place youth externally in selected high-impact sectors and future-facing job roles that align with their overall sustainability strategies. YES will place youth on your behalf, handling the recruitment, quality work experience and absorption.
High-impact sectors in which we are placing youth:
- Green economy and renewables
- Drones
- Digital/global business support services
- Healthcare
- Education
- SMME support
The YES turnkey solution also helps businesses create critical youth jobs in sectors that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies.
In your first year of participation, if you register with YES and contract your youth before your financial year-end, you can receive your B-BBEE levels up within the same reporting period.
Why partner with YES?
YES is addressing the youth unemployment crisis with an innovative model based on collaboration and quality work experience. With over 1,834 corporate partners, YES has created more than 169,700 jobs for young South Africans, injecting R9,6 billion into the economy through YES Youth salaries. Beyond its B-BBEE incentives, YES provides solutions specific to the legal sector that offer shared value to companies, communities, and the country.
By creating critical youth jobs through YES, businesses not only enhance their B-BBEE scores but align with their EE strategies, contributing to socio-economic transformation and supporting community growth and transformation.
Change youth lives. Elevate your scorecard. #SayYES.
Want to learn more?
Contact our Business Development team at:
corporatesupport@yes4youth.co.za.
Amendment to the Gazette