February is deadline for BEE charters

ALAN PEAT
ALL THE sub-sectors in the transport industry - road, rail, air and sea; cargo and passenger - must have their black economic empowerment (BEE) charters ready by the end of February, according to Fred Jacobs, co-chairman of the national maritime transport sector’s task team for the BEE charter.
That, he told FTW, marks the date when all these charters will get a public launch at a major function due to be attended by senior government members.
His shipping sector, meantime, had its own agreement signed off at the end of last year. It was accepted by the labour unions and cleared by the Department of Transport.
“The focus of this charter is in three areas,” he said, “transfer of skills, job creation and alleviation of poverty.”
Foreign-owned shipping lines, however, are not included. “Multi-nationals will not need to have any empowerment shareholding in overseas equity. But locals must have black economic empowerment in place.”
l Don’t miss next week’s BEE column in FTW.