PETITION: End Unfair Age Restrictions in Jobs, Learnerships, and Internships

We, the people of South Africa, call on government departments, private companies, SETAs, and recruitment agencies to stop using unfair age restrictions on jobs, learnerships, internships, and employment opportunities.

Why this matters:
Many South Africans aged 30 to 45 are unemployed, skilled, willing to work, and trying to support their families. Yet they are routinely excluded from opportunities simply because of their age.

This practice violates the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. Under Section 6(1), it is unfair discrimination for any employer to discriminate against a job applicant or employee based on age, unless the discrimination is based on the inherent requirements of the job. The Department of Employment and Labour enforces this Act and has stated that age limits in adverts are generally unlawful unless justified by the job itself.

We believe employment opportunities must be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and willingness to work — not age discrimination.

We request:
1. Review and remove unnecessary age restrictions in all job, learnership, and internship adverts.
2. Ensure equal access to internships and learnerships for all qualified South Africans, regardless of age.
3. Require transparency from government and companies to justify any age limits used, in line with the Employment Equity Act.
4. Enforce fair employment policies that give every citizen a real chance to work, as required by the Department of Employment and Labour.

South Africans deserve dignity, equal opportunity, and employment regardless of age.

Enough is enough.