The Construction Sector Charter Council (CSCC) on Thursday launched the revised draft Construction Sector Code (CSC), which is aimed at aligning the unique aspects of the sector with the black economic-empowerment and transformation targets set out by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
CSCC CEO Thabo Masombuka highlighted that the key strategic objectives of the sector code were to accelerate black ownership in the sector, promote effective employment equity practices, accelerate skills development, increase transformation in procurement practices, foster supplier and contractor development, and contribute to the creation of black industrialists.
He emphasised the importance of skills development, noting that it had been a major stumbling block for the sector for a number of years and that it was important for businesses to assist with skills development targets.
Meanwhile, CSCC executive committee member Gregory Mofokeng explained that the codes had been developed over a 23-month period owing to a lack of consensus between the members of the CSCC.
This resulted in the CSC being submitted to the DTI after the November 2015 deadline and, subsequently, its repeal in February this year.
The sector reached consensus on the revised draft in May, which Masombuka said required compromise between the requirements of established and emerging construction companies.
The revised draft CSC is expected to be published for public comment next week; however, the CSCC has warned that the DTI may repeal the code again rather than gazetting it.