TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BETWEEN THE ECB AND ECA(SA) | ECA(SA) | 2011/09/19

• All electrical contractors have received two notices from the Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa (ECB) informing them that the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA(SA)) has terminated its contract to carry out registrations of electrical contractors on its behalf.  In addition, it has announced that it will be having Roadshows on the registration process and the issuing of certificates of compliance.   It has also advised that in future all registrations will be done through the various branches of Voltex Electrical Wholesalers.

  As this announcement seems to have caused a bit of confusion it is necessary for the ECA(SA) to explain the background to this matter, and what can be expected in the future.

  The ECA(SA) is a registered employer’s organisation in terms of the Labour Relations Act and has been in existence for over 60 years.  It is a totally autonomous and independent body and its prime function is to look after the interests of its members and provide a wide range of services.  The ECB is a totally separate organisation and its primary function since 1992 has been the registration of electrical contractors on behalf of the Department of Labour in terms of the Electrical Installation Regulations.  Such Board is made up of many role players from within the Industry, including the ECA(SA).

  In October 1992 when the previous Electrical Installation Regulations came into effect, the ECB was appointed to carry out all of the registrations of electrical contractors.  Because the ECA(SA) had the infrastructure and offices in seven major centres throughout the country, it was appointed as the Board’s service provider to carry out the registrations on its behalf and to sell its certificates of compliance.  In return we were paid an administration fee which took into account the provision of office accommodation, office equipment, staff, telephones, stationery etc.  However, after the Board reduced this fee considerably it was found that the arrangement was no longer financially viable so we decided to terminate the contract.  It was purely a business decision based on the fact that we could not continue to carry costly overheads for the Board.  To be fair we gave the ECB six months notice so that it could make alternative arrangements, and this notice period ends on 30 September 2011.

  Earlier this month we were informed that from 1 October the ECB is now to use the services of all Voltex Electrical Wholesalers outlets throughout South Africa to carry out the registrations of electrical contractors on its behalf, and to sell its COC/Test Reports.  We have reason to believe that this arrangement may not be in the best interests of the Industry and may have serious unitended consequences.

  As the ECA(SA)’s delegate on the ECB Board I was unaware of this decision.  Accordingly I requested that an urgent meeting be convened to discuss the issue but my request was ignored.  I also wrote to the Chief Inspector of the Department of Labour, who is responsible for the administration of the Electrical Installation Regulations, and appealed to him to intervene in the matter but again no response has been received.  I have also expressed my reservations to the management at Voltex.

  There is a lot of confusion in the market place about the differences between the ECA and the ECB and we wanted everyone concerned to understand that the ECA(SA) had nothing whatsoever to do with this new arrangement. We will keep you informed about future developments in this matter, but want to make it clear that our objections have nothing to do with the fact that we are no longer the Board"s service provider.  We have made the decision to terminate our long standing arrangement and this will not be reversed.  However, there is a procedural issue which must be properly addressed.

  Finally, members are reminded that we will continue selling our own COC/Test Report pads from all of our Regional offices.  In addition, AS A SERVICE TO MEMBERS we will continue to assist them with their annual registrations as electrical contractors should they be unable to do so electronically.

   

  CHRIS GREAGER
  NATIONAL DIRECTOR: OPERATIONS