MONDAY, 11.30AM
LAST week’s gazetting of a draft Bill giving statutory recognition to the National Home Builders’ Registration Council has set the scene for a clash between government and the Building Industries Federation of SA.
The draft Bill makes it an offence to operate a business as a home builder unless registered with the council, or to build houses worth more than R20 000 without recording them with the council.
Bifsa representatives last week threatened legal action if negotiations to modify the provisions of the Bill are unsuccessful, and Bifsa executive director Ian Robinson said at the weekend that the industry is appalled by the lack of “transparency and consultation” by government over the Bill.
“It is common knowledge that we are extremely dissatisfied with many aspects of the scheme’s administration and rules, and to date we still await a written response from the council to our many problems, which are shared by other stakeholders,” said Robinson.
Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele said consultation on the draft Bill began on Friday, and that comments and suggestions on the Bill will be taken into account as the Bill goes through the parliamentary process. She added statutory recognition of the council is necessary to ensure the needs of consumers are taken care of by all stakeholders in the housing construction industry.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
MUNICIPAL WORKERS MARCH FOUR Cosatu-aligned public service unions begin action on Tuesday in support of wage and privatisation demands which could culminate in national strike action. The action begins with a march in Johannesburg by the SA Municipal Workers’ Union, which the union expects to draw about 20 000 protesters. The unions have threatened a national protest march on July 25 if they do not receive a satisfactory response from government.
EMPLOYMENT BILL TO PARLIAMENT THE Basic Conditions of Employment Bill is set to be tabled before the next session of Parliament despite a lack of agreement on the Bill between unions and business in the National Economic Development and Labour Council. It is believed government will attempt to broker agreement on the Bill before it is tabled. Nedlac on Friday mandated a sub-committee to draft a report to Parliament outlining areas of disagreement on the Bill.