Some good news for AGM

By Tara Benn

Although the past year has presented the South African coatings sector and SAPMA with formidable challenges, Tara Benn, executive director of SAPMA, had news of several positive and encouraging developments to convey to delegates at the recent AGM.

PAINT RETAIL AND HARDWARE ASSOCIATION

SAPMA has recently gained valuable additional members to this association, created by SAPMA for individually owned retailers, to assist with future developments in this sector.

THE SURFACE COATINGS EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION (SCEA)

The National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry (NBCCI) is currently negotiating 2022 wages and conditions of employment with the Department of Labour after receiving their demands in early April 2022. SCEA is now negotiating a multi–year instead of a one-year agreement (as requested by Department of Labour) as well as various other conditions of employment and wage demands.

TRAINING SAPMA

is still providing training to the coatings sector, but SAPITI will be closed, and all training will go through SAPMA going forward. The positives here would be the accreditation of our assessors with CHIETA. The reaccreditation process is now being finalised with CHIETA to provide skillsbased training for the coatings sector, and open this up to more training providers nationally. If the courses are accredited, it helps our members with accredited training as well as ensuring more people in coatings can be trained and skills enhanced nationally.

TECHNICAL

The SAPMA Technical Committee has several new members who have joined during the year to assist with technical aspects such as the Lead in Paint regulations as well as more input in other regulations affecting our industry such as methanol, Section 18 of the Waste Management Act, and the Titanium Dioxide Rebate. At the last Technical Committee meeting, SAPMA introduced the SAPMA Guarantee Verification Scheme, as well as the Carbon Off-set Policy for all SAPMA members to benefit from.

PROFESSIONAL BODY AND CONFEDERATION

With assistance from SAPMA consultant, Dr Ivor Blumenthal of Ark Konsult, the development of the professional body platform has made substantial progress and we now have our first group of professionals being designated.

The industries we have focused on initially are manufacturing, suppliers and retail. SAPMA will continue with the development for construction members in due course.c

Tara Benn

SAPMA is still providing training to the coatings sector, but SAPITI will be closed, and all training will go through SAPMA going forward