Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (Act No. 53 of 2003)Industry ChartersForest Sector Charter12. Preferential Procurement12.2 Additional Instruments12.2.1 Industry Codes of Conduct for the Forest Sector |
To ensure equitable and sustainable contracting and employment practices in the Forest Sector, industry (through its representative associations), in consultation with labour, undertakes to establish Industry Codes of Conduct for the Forest Sector that will cover the following elements:
| (a) | Codes for forestry contracting: These Codes will control and direct the relationship between contracting companies and contractors, and between contractors and sub-contractors. The Codes will provide for larger and longer-term contracts enabling contractors to improve margins and invest in their businesses and staff. It will also provide for transparent and accessible tendering systems and fair pricing that will support good governance and fair labour practices. |
| (b) | Codes for emerging forest grower schemes: These Codes will control and direct contracts with emerging growers in company-affiliated schemes. The Codes will ensure transparency in the costing of support services and market related pricing arrangements for timber that will support sustainable business practices, good governance and fair labour practices. |
| (c) | Codes for charcoal contracting: These Codes will control and direct the relationship between small black charcoal producers and the brand name producers and industrial users of charcoal. The Codes will provide for partnership ventures between small scale suppliers and large scale buyers of charcoal and a fair, transparent and stable pricing system that will support sustainable business practices, good governance and fair labour practices. |
| (d) | Codes for employment practices: These Codes will give practical effect and weight to fair labour practices as provided for under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, and other labour legislation as it applies to employees, including contract workers, in the forest sector. Government also undertakes to ensure that enterprises that procure timber and other forest products from state forests shall sign a commitment of compliance with these Codes. Failure to do so or to comply with these Codes will disqualify enterprises from procuring state timber and other forest products. |
This measure will be operational within one year of the signing of the Charter.