Spotlight

2006-01-06  Main Activites - EIF

ICT CHARTER & the Codes of Good Practice

EIF Position Paper

February 2007

EIF was an initiator of the Charter process, and led the Working Group; we continue to play an active role.

In late 2004, the charter process was handed over by the Working Group to the Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from industry associations, (including EIF), telecommunications, operators, broadcasting unions, etc; under the auspices of Nedlac.

After many long drawn out meetings and discussions during the first half of 2005, a draft of the ICT Charter was handed to the Minister of Communications, and was taken to Cabinet where it was approved, subject, we understand, to it being brought inline with the Codes of Good Practice, which had at that stage been only partly issued (phase 1).

As the discussions progressed, the EIF Council decided that it would be in the industry?s best interest to stay with the concept of Codes of Good Practice rather than having an individual ICT Charter. This is particularly important for companies with activities in many sectors, which of course is often the case with ICT where companies may supply ICT services and equipment to the mining industry, the banking industry, etc.

At one stage, we were a lone voice in this regard, but as discussions evolved so it was agreed with the Steering Committee that the Charter would in fact reflect the Codes of Good Practice.

From midyear, Steering Committee activities on the Charter ceased, despite several attempts by our association and others to call a meeting of the Committee. The chairperson of the Steering Committee, who had been appointed by DoC. blocked these calls for a meeting.

Phase 2 of the codes of good practice was issued on the 20 December 2005; fortunately, following an earlier request from the EIF, the codes were issued with an extended period for the comments to be submitted. Comments are due on the 31 March 2006. EIF also suggested to the Minister of the dti that comments should be routed via the existing infrastructures i.e. Steering Committee, industry associations etc, and that we should try to work towards having consensus before submission of the comments. This would have the effect of bringing the finalization date for the Codes of Good Practice forward, with the hope of completing the gazetting during 2006.

The Steering Committee resolutely ignored the issue of the Codes, and it was a very poorly attended meeting (EIF plus DoC) that responded to the dti with expressions of support and commitment to bring the Charter in line with the Codes. As a result, and as agreed at our AGM last year, individual companies submitted their comments, which has had a positive effect on the outcomes.

DTI had expected to complete the Codes by mid 2006, but as predicted at the EIF AGM in February last year: ?As time goes by, the enormity of the task of aligning 8 industry sectors to a standard Codes of Good Practice is starting to dawn on the dti, who will no doubt have to announce at some time that completion will not be possible in 2006. This may lead them to push for sector Charters after all.?

14th December 2006 saw the issue of the Codes, just making it before the end of the year; however, the necessary supporting detail was not provided until the gazetting of the Codes on the 9th February. Meanwhile, extensive lobbying by industry convinced the dti to remove from the Corporate Social Investment and Enterprise development the requirement to invest ??.0,5% of turnover?. Vestiges of this requirement are still visible in the relevant sections of the Codes, where they will remain as fossilized evidence of extremism.

Since we now have the Codes of Good Practice, our EIF view is that both the Codes and the Charter ?as was? would lead to even more confusion in the market place.

The Steering committee met on the 14th February 2007 to consider the way forward; there has been and still is a concern that the Steering Committee is not representative of the industry. As an example, ITA was not represented by current members, but by a legacy attendee with no mandate. The previous Committee Chairperson also makes an appearance, with views that are distinctly not of the industry. These matters have been and are being addressed by the undersigned, but emphasise again the importance of an industry association which remains vigilant and represents the opinions of its members.

At the Steering Committee meeting, we agreed that the Codes should be used as a starting point, and are producing a ?new? version of the Charter which will essentially have a preamble from the industry, adopt the Codes into the document, and propose some new wording where there are differences between the Charter and the Codes where this wording is viewed as being important. It must be stressed however that these points of difference will be minimized or eliminated (EIF objective) so as not to have any detrimental effect on companies which prefer to stay with the Codes.

We will then have a document which commits the ICT industry to following the Codes, which is anyway the intent of the industry, and in their own interest.

Its purpose, of course, is mainly political.

Roger Dawes

Executive Director

Electronic industries Federation

082 891 7888

22nd February 2007

Exhibitions and Conferences: Futurex - Where ICT-E and Business Connect

An important aspect of showcasing the skills and capabilities of our industry is holding of Exhibitions and Conferences. Working with the Computer Society CSSA, we have an agreement with Exhibitions for Africa EFA to combine our Tel.Com with Computer Faire to form Futurex. This annual event?was staged for the first time in 2004 in gauteng, and is also staged annually in September in Cape Town. The management of the conference has been given to the EIF and CSSA; in turn, as a further fillip to the success of the event, ITWeb has been appointed Conference organiser. EIF members are entitled to discounts for both the exhibition and the conference, and are also given priority in contributing to conferences. www.futurex.co.za

Governement Relations

EIF works closely with the Departement of Trade and Industry (thedti).

The main areas are:

  • ICT BEE Database @ DTI

The BEE Database at the Department of Trade and Industry, part sponsored by the EIF, has the objective of collating information on BEE companies in the ICT sector, enabling contact to be made to further business co-operation in terms of partnerships, suppliers of equipment and services, ets. EIF is active on the steering commitee of the project, which is now far more comprehensive than previously. Members can obtain from EIF analysis of the Database, or visit www.thedti.gov.za

  • Industry Data

We assist DTI in obtaining comprehensive statistics and building a database to reflect a true picture of our industry, which will help in securing Government support for growth, as well as giving members the opportunity to participate and benefit from the information gathered.

  • Business Growth

We are also able to point DTI in the direction of our members when receiving enquiries from foreign companies interested in doing business in SA.

Skills Development

EIF has been involved with the ISETT SETA since its inception, represented by three Board Members. It has become clear that a focussed strategy for the development of the SETA is necessary, taking into account the need for high level skills, both technical and management, in our industry. The EIF commits to making the needs of its members known in the field.

Capacity Building

We have a working group to investigate ways in which we can build local industry capability in not just manufacturing but also development of hardware and software, posing such questions as:

  • How we can jointly benefit from the Dept of S & T advanced manufacturing initiative

  • How we can work together to benefit from various other initiatives

  • How we can encourage local manufacture, looking beyond the simple local content preferences and considering strategic issues

  • How we can benefit jointly from the investment in ISETT learnership programmes

  • How we can further the aims of the Telkom Centres of Excellence programmes

Export Ventures

EIF works closely with the SA Electrotechnical Export Council SAEEC, giving members the opportunity to participate in various export initiatives. A new agreement with the World Federation of Electronics Industries will open up further co-operation opportunities for members. Please visit their website for further information http://www.saeec.org.za

Industry Relations

EIF has close ties to other Industry Associations working in similar fields, and co-operates on joint ventures such as Futurex and ISETT SETA. This gives our members access to information on cross industry initiatives.




2006-01-06  The EIF's Mission

Our mission is to monitor and constructively influence the evolving environment by providing representative industry opinion on the contribution that the ICT-Electronics Industry makes to the development of South Africa, to encourage co-operation amongst members, and to raise the profile of the ICT Electronics Sector in SA to create an environment in which the ICT - Electronics Sector can prosper.

Objectives

  • Raising the profile of the EIF to speak as one voice for the ICT-Electronics Sector, proportional to the size of the sector segment.
  • Engaging Government in building the formulation of policy favourable to the development of a healthy, globally orientated electronics industry.
  • Setting up assistance mechanisms for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME's) to better facilitate their access to available business.
  • Leading the formulation of an ICT-E Empowerment Charter to put before Government.
  • Facilitating the development of human skills through close co-operation with the ISETT SETA.
  • Capacity building in all value-added activities of the industry.
  • Facilitating the development of co-operative export ventures by working in partnership with the DTI, Dept of Foreign Affaires and the SA Electrotechnical Export Council.



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