12 May 2016

The welfare of staff engaged by contractors under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) projects is key to the success of such programmes. 

 The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said project implementing authorities should ensure that workers’ welfare issues were addressed.  

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said this following a briefing by the South East District Council (SEDC) executive on primary schools backlog eradication and ESP progress. 

The assistant minister encouraged the council to ensure that contractors paid employees the agreed salaries and on time. 

 He said history had shown that failure by contractors to pay employees on time contributed to disputes which affected projects progress. 

 He said SEDC should ensure that contractors were always on site, adding that ESP goal covers project acceleration and job creation. 

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said monitoring contactors would result in contractors growth and becoming competitive in the construction industry. 

 “We should not only look at the short term gains, but we must also look into long term gains,” he added. 

 Mr Van Der Westhuizen said councils should speed up implementation of ESP projects. They were also encouraged to officially open completed projects, so that communities could appreciate the ministry’s efforts. 

 Earlier, when briefing the assistant minister, acting council secretary, Mr Baatlhodi Noge said the district appreciated the government decision to fund backlog eradication under ESP. 

 The projects were expected to boost the economic activities in the district upon their completion, he said. 

Mr Noge said councillors were engaged in the selection of projects to be implemented in the district under ESP. 

 He said when tendering, contactors were asked to submit references of their recent works in order to track their capability in delivering projects. ENDS