Coega developers sign labour agreement

Ed Richardson
Unions and developers have signed a project labour agreement for the building of the port of Ngqura.
The agreement seeks to create a stable labour environment during the construction phase of the multi-billion rand deepwater port. Construction of the port commenced last year. It is scheduled to receive the first vessels in 2005.
The signing of the port labour agreement follows a Zone labour agreement reached in September 2002 to govern employment conditions and labour relations during the construction of the Coega Industrial Development Zone. Both agreements were facilitated by the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), which is responsible for the development of
the zone.
CDC industrial relations specialist, Papama Jonas, says every major project that locates in the Coega Project site will have its own specifically developed project labour agreement, which will take its cue from the ZLA. ÒLabour relations will be standardised, but will also be specific to each investor or contractor,Ó she says.
The agreement includes induction programmes, contracts, dispute resolution and grievance procedures, and standard wage rates.