/ 13 July 2005

Business, labour satisfied with BEE codes input

Business and labour have expressed satisfaction that they will be able to “influence” the final draft of the empowerment codes of good practice that measure the implementation of empowerment, BuaNews reported on Wednesday.

Speaking after the presidential joint working group meeting in Pretoria on Tuesday, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said the government has given the assurance that labour will have a second chance to influence the final draft of the codes.

The broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) codes of good practice were released last month, with the aim of measuring and setting a yardstick on empowerment deals in both the government and the private sector, BuaNews stated.

However, both business and labour federations raised concerns over the draft, saying that the codes could place an “administrative burden on businesses”, while labour said it was disappointed that pension-fund holdings in a company were not included as part of empowerment interests.

But at the meeting of representatives from labour, business, the government and agricultural officials, representatives seemed to have reached consensus, BuaNews said.

“As a matter of process, we did raise the issue of the broad-based black economic empowerment codes and just to seek an assurance that we will have a second chance to influence the process moving forward,” said Vavi.

The codes were published last month for public comment, and so far, all stakeholders have made their comments regarding the draft.

“The second draft is being worked on to take into account the comments. We have been assured that in between that draft being taken to the Cabinet process; both labour and business will be consulted. We are quite happy with the commitment made by government,” Vavi added.

Business representative Patrice Motsepe said business is committed to creating an environment for alleviating poverty.

“The codes are the heart of BEE to ensure that as many of our people are active beneficiaries of empowerment,” Motsepe said.

Businesswoman Danisa Baloyi also expressed satisfaction that the consultation process and codes put women at the top of empowerment initiatives.

“We are quite pleased that they touch on affirmative procurement for rural women, and the section that deals with inclusion of black women. We believe that the final document will be a wining document for all because the process has been very consultative,” she said. — I-Net Bridge