Trade and Industry Committee concerned about pricing in the steel industry
Yesterday, the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry was briefed by the Department of Trade and Industry on the eighth edition of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), including matters relating to the steel industry.
The Committee raised their concerns regarding the pricing environment in the steel industry. The Committee expressed concern regarding the apparent delay in establishing a steel committee within the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC). The steel committee will evaluate and monitor steel pricing, production, investment and labour retention.
All members of the Committee registered their concern regarding the impact of the steel pricing environment on production, investment and more importantly the labour retention given the cavalier manner in which some companies are retrenching workers.
The Committee took a decision to write to the Minister of Trade and Industry to clarify the issue. Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, further undertook to convene an urgent meeting with the Minister should the situation deteriorate during the constituency period. Furthermore Ms Fubbs, said she would request the Minister to keep the Committee abreast of new developments occurring during this time.
As part of the Committee program for the third term, a meeting has been scheduled with the Minister on the 16th of August 2016. The agenda item that will form part of the discussion will focus on the steel industry and a follow up meeting on IPAP.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Rajaa Azzakani
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
