Human Settlements departmental Spokesperson, Freddy Ngobe said the conference, beginning on Thursday in Hazyview will also discuss concerns raised by emerging contractors within the building sector.
"The conference is aimed at supporting, creating an enabling environment and reinforcing the ability for the emerging contractors to develop their skills and improve their grading in the building industry," said Ngobe.
The conference, he added, was in response to national government's resolution that required provincial departments to hold their own conferences to discuss strategies and interventions in support of the emerging contractor and find solutions to these challenges.
"The department will engage in dialogue with the emerging contractors to establish how far it has gone in improving the situation of the emerging contractors since 2000. There are still several challenges faced by emerging contractors affecting their development," Ngobe said.
Some of the problems identified, according to Ngobe include sub-standard education and training, where emerging contractors' level of formal education is very low.
Over years many emerging contractors have complained about access to finance as financial institutions need security to finance emerging businesses and late payment by government as a result of internal processes as stumbling blocks to their work.
Other challenges include lack of institutionalised support; there are a few institutions that support emerging contractors.
According to Ngobe, a study conducted by national Department of Human
Settlements found that 80 percent of developers use emerging contractors as sub contractors in building top structures.
Emerging contractors are the main providers of employment of local residents as they employ semi-skilled and general labourers in the locality. Women are mostly employed in administrative, cleaning and bedding jobs although there has been a significant increase in women contractors in government's low cost housing.
Details of the event:
Date: 27 to 28 May 2010
Venue: Nthunzi Lodge, Hazyview
Time: 08h00
Contact:
Bongani Mlangeni
Tel: 012 421 1409
Cell: 082 885 3378 or 073 525 3107
