TRADES’ ASSOCIATION
WESTERN CAPE
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BELMONT SQUARE P0 BOX 382
BELMONT ROAD RONDEBOSCH 7701
RONDEBOSCH 7700 TEL:021 685-2625 FAX: 021 685-2622
E-mail:mbawc.org.za Website:http//www:mbawc.org.za
Week 7 23 February 2007
this week @ mbawc
COPYRIGHT IS RESERVED
Information and opinions expressed in this publication are offered solely in pursuance of the objects of the Association to provide an information service to it’s members. No part may be reproduced or copied in any form or means to non-members not listed on the MBA database without prior permission of the Association. Any such action would be viewed as an infringement of the Copyright Act.
BUDGET WEEK – And the implications for the building and construction sector.
Herewith MFA’s February newsletter attached.
Please note that the graphics are best viewed in colour and do take a little while to download.
CONTRACTUAL AND LEGAL WORKSHOP
The PRACTICAL COMPLETION workshop held on the 15th February at Belmont Square, attracted some 160 delegates. We do apologise for the large numbers and will in future ensure that further workshops of this type are restricted to lesser numbers in order to facilitate more debate.
Please diarise for a further workshop on Practical Completion specifically intended for Sub– Contractors.
Date: 29 March 2007 at 15h00
Place: Belmont Square.
A formal notice in this regard from the Office will be sent out shortly.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
MBSA has appointed Mr Cecil Naude as the national Safety Co-ordinator. Mr Naude took office during the course of the month and we look forward to his valuable experience in this field assisting our OHS efforts in the Western Cape.
JOINT PRACTICE COMMITTEE
A meeting of the JPC was held on Tuesday the 20th. The meeting was Chaired by outgoing Chairman Ian Mcguigan. The meeting agreed that Mr Mark Massyn representing the CIDB will Chair the next three meetings in terms of the constitution which allows for a Chairman on a three month rotational basis.
( 9 Revised practice notes have been adopted and subject to editing these will go out to constituent members during the course of the next week).
Discussions took place on a number of issues common to all constituent members namely; The NHBRC – and exemption for professionals,
Project Manager contract documentation, abortive works and the implications thereof for contractors who do not record such at the time eg a photograph or a letter advising PA of the cost of abortive work, proposed time limits imposed by the Banks on Payment Guarantees, and Practical completion as it applies to all constituent members.
Discussion also took place on complaints received from suppliers being requested to sign nominated subcontract agreements with contractors. As it is mainly an MBA item the matter has been referred to the MBA Contractual and Legal Committee.
NORTHLINK COLLEGE
A meeting of the BUILDLINK committee (Representatives from the MBA + Northlink) took place at Northlink on the 20th Feb 2007. The matter of our dissatisfaction with the Plumbing department at Northlink was raised and we are assured that steps are being taken to rectify this ASAP.
MCAB – Master Contractor Accreditation Bureau
This Gauteng based company is lobbying members and we advise that members exercise extreme caution in signing up with an accreditation bureau who does not have any track record in this regard. It is my personal view and that of colleagues that what they are claiming of implementation. We also question the motive behind this bureau – are they acting for the customer or for the contractor who has to pay a fee to register with them. Sounds a bit like a private NHBRC??
BIBC – Pension & Provident Fund
Our congratulations are extended to Past President Willem Vorster who has been elected unopposed to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
BIBC Pension and Provident Funds.
Willem takes over the reins from the late Michael Judge who served the Council for some 32 years and was Chairman of the pension Fund for 12 years.
Special Trustee Training Session
Board members were reminded that although some trustee training had taken place in the past, the Financial Services Board was now insisting on trustees being duly trained and certificated. The Pension Fund consultants, Simeka, have an approved training course, which will be presented at the next Board Meeting. Members of the Board will have to undergo further training and have to write an examination for Trustees.
With the recent debacle with Fidentia and some of their pension funds it should be comforting for employers to know that the BIBC takes the training of Trustees very seriously in light of the onerous fiduciary duties when acting as Trustees of the fund.
Employers and members will be pleased that after Sanlam took over the administration of the Fund from Investec in 2002 our Fund is now worth in excess of R1billion from R600 000 in 2002.
Burial Repatriation Benefit
The Board was advised that Sanlam was offering a “Burial Repatriation Benefit” to persons who qualify for funeral benefits, without any extra cost to the Funds, w.e.f. 01 February 2007. The benefit would be for the transportation of the body from a morgue to the morgue closest to the burial place, south of 22 degree parallel. This benefit was outsourced and the number to telephone is 0860 004 080. The benefit would be administered by the Help Desk.
Funeral Benefits Qualification – Amendment of Rules
It was AGREED that the Funeral Benefit Rules be amended, w.e.f. 01 February 2007, to enable a member falling ill within the 150 days prior to the death of the member or his dependants, to still qualify for funeral benefits if the member had taken ill and been paid by the Sick Pay Fund during that period. This means that should a member not have earned 65 daily contributions during the 150 day period prior to the date of the incident, the period the member was paid for out of the Sick Pay Fund, would be taken into consideration for qualification purposes.
CONSTRUCTION CHARTER
So much disinformation is being bandied about by sources outside our Industry and Members are to please take note that The Act does not enforce the Charter. There is no legal requirement to comply. Of course should a ‘giver of work’ state that compliance with the Charter is a pre-requisite for acceptance of a tenderer that of course is another matter.
SAFETY THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
Safety Competition
The regional safety competition is around the corner and I urge those companies who have not entered to please do so, if you need competition entry forms please contact me.
Judging will begin in March and will continue through to the second last week in June, as we need to collate the results and send our winning entries in for the national competition.
Auditing any site takes many hours, with a large multi-story building taking up to as much as 4 hours to audit properly. Therefore my plea to all competition entrants, make sure your paperwork is in order, there is nothing more frustrating than having to wait whilst someone scratches around for files.
Make sure your sub-contractors files are in order, as we need to see them as well.
All sites will receive a report back on their audit at the end of the competition.
Safe building
Deon Bester
083-2629868
ASSISTANCE WITH TRAINING FUNDING
Members are reminded that only those who have a record of good standing in the purchase of MBAWC BIBC benefit stamps, which includes a contribution towards the training of those members employees can benefit from any assistance with training funding.
Please feel free to email us at with any suggestions that you have which will assist us to serve you better.
Please remember that it is the expected duty of a member to try and persuade all qualified and suitable firms and individuals to join and strengthen the Association.
R Johnson
Director
23/02/2007
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