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Press Release – 2015/09/11: NO END IN SIGHT FOR METALS AND ENGINEERING SECTOR WOES

JOHANNESBURG, 11 September 2015 – The July production data for the metals and engineering sector released by Statistics South Africa yesterday suffered greatly from the base effect of the metals strike slump of July 2014, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) said this morning.

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GRANT REGULATIONS 2012 declared invalid

In a statement released by BUSA on 21 August 2015 it was reported that the outcome of a significant court victory reinforces the rule of law and reasserts the value and importance of workplace skills training.

On 7 August 2015 the Labour Court handed down judgement in the application brought by BUSA to review and set aside certain aspects of the SETA Grant Regulations made by the Minister of Higher Education in December 2012. A particular point of contention in the case was that the new regulations reduced the mandatory skills grant payable to employers from 50% to 20%. The regulations also included a “sweeping mechanism” which required SETAs to pay over all unspent funds to the National Skills Fund. This meant that these funds could be spent on national skills initiatives that were not related to workplace training.

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Press Release – 2015/09/01: AUGUST PMI INDICATES RENEWED PESSIMISM

JOHANNESBURG, 1 September 2015 – There appears to be renewed pessimism in the economy if the August Barclays Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reading is anything to go by, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) said today.

The seasonally-adjusted overall index declined by nearly 5% in August compared to July 2015. Compared to August 2014, one month after the 2014 strikes had ended, it improved by 3,4%, which is to be expected. However, when compared to August 2013, a month without distortions, the reading is still nearly 10% lower. Speaking after the release of the index, SEIFSA Chief Economist Henk Langenhoven said that the ‘business activity’ sub-index showed higher volatility again’.

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Press Release – 2015/08/28: SEIFSA WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO IMPOSE A 10% TARIFF ON IMPPORTED STEEL

JOHANNESBURG, 28 AUGUST 2015 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) welcomes the Government’s decision to impose a 10% tariff on cheap, imported steel.

Speaking after the release of a statement by the Department of Trade and Industry today, SEIFSA Chief Economist Henk Langenhoven said that the Federation was very pleased with Trade and Industry Minister’s undertaking to impose a tariff on imported steel that made it impossible for local manufacturers to compete.

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