Building sector seeks improved visibility of future workflow
The building industry is still recovering from the effects of the 2008 global recession and government needs to provide the industry with some reassurance that it will provide a consistent workload to reduce the effect of the economic cycle, says the Master Builders Association Western Cape (MBAWC).
MBAWC executive director Rob Johnson notes that, in his State of the Nation address last month, President Jacob Zuma highlighted that, in 2012, government unveiled the National Infrastructure Plan, which is spearheaded by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC). The President noted that the PICC had invested R1-trillion in public infrastructure over the past five years, adding that many of the projects had been completed or were nearing completion.
However, Johnson says there is concern about Zuma not mentioning the plan of action for the 2014 financial year, noting that the President announced that government would present the programme after the national elections.
“While the construction industry is grateful for the contribution that government has made so far, we are disappointed, however, that no plans have been announced yet for government to continue in this vein,” he points out.
The MBAWC highlights that the unclear roll-out of work creates a great deal of uncertainty and, as a result, companies that rely heavily on government projects to remain afloat are in a precarious position. The construction industry has the capacity to absorb large numbers of unemployed people and, therefore, facilitate skills development, should a steady workflow from government be available.
Meanwhile, the MBAWC mentions that, in terms of training and skills development, it commends government’s achievements, particularly in increasing the number of enrolments at university level, as well as the much-improved matric pass rate and interventions aimed at improving mathematics and science at schools.
The association also applauds government’s efforts to make further education more accessible through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and the construction of additional further education and training colleges.
“We will continue to support government’s efforts through the Master Builders Associa-tion artisan, skills and bursary programmes. However, these can never be on the scale required to service the industry as a whole,” Johnson says, adding that the MBAWC hopes to see continued investment in infrastructure and in skills development.
Johnson points out that the MBAWC’s primary objective is to ensure that the good reputation of its members in the province remains intact and that, subsequently, the association attracts investment in building construction projects.
As a result, the MBAWC would like to see more projects being rolled out in the Western Cape. Members handle about 70% of all the building work in Cape Town and employ a similar percentage of the total building-industry workforce.
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