MONDAY, 11.30AM
MARKETERS of agricultural products have been caught unawares by a notice in the Government Gazette extending government’s regulatory powers over the marketing of several farm products.
In terms of the notice, Land and Agriculture Minister Derek Hanekom acquires regulatory powers over a range of previously unregulated products including coffee, tea, poultry and sugar cane, as well as other minor products such as herbs and ornamental plants. Hanekom can order inquiries into any aspects of agricultural marketing in these sectors that are “of concern” to him, and these sectors can apply for compulsory levies or other regulatory measures.
The move has led to concern, with some sectors claiming they were not consulted and poultry and egg producers saying they had specifically opted out of controlling legislation some years back.
But National Agricultural Marketing Council chairman Eckart Kassier said the move has no sinister undertones, adding that it makes sense for all primary agricultural products to be treated in the same way.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
PRIVATE NURSES CAN STRIKE
THE Labour Relations Act will not define as essential services private medical facilities that offer services also provided by the public sector, thus giving their employees the right to strike. The decision was taken by the essential services committee after heated debate. Private sector services that are the sole providers of particular essential services, such as the SA Blood Transfusion Service, will be deemed essential services.
SAMWU UPSET AT WATER CONTRACT
THE SA Municipal Workers’ Union has expressed shock at the unilateral decision by the Nelspruit transitional local council to award a 30-year water and sanitation privatisation contract, for an as-yet undisclosed sum, to British multinational Biwater, its French counterparts Lyonnaise des Eaux, and Saur and a number of local companies. The union said water tariffs in and around Nelspruit are bound to skyrocket in the near future.