The Competition Commission has filed charges with the Competition Tribunal against the Contractors Plant Hire Association (CPHA) and its 22 members, for allegedly fixing rental rates for earthmoving machinery and plant equipment.
The commission found that the association and its members contravened the Competition Act by allegedly fixing prices and/or fixing trading condition when renting out earthmoving machinery and plant equipment.
A complaint against CPHA and its members was initially filed with the commission in February 2017.
The commission’s investigation found that, as far back as 1970 to date, members of the CPHA had allegedly agreed under the auspices of the association to fix the minimum hourly and daily rate charged for the rental of their machinery and plant equipment and/or fixed trading conditions relating to the renting of their machinery and plant equipment.