Printing SA Announces Labour And National Small Enterprise Act Updates And More

Printing SA has announced labour as well as National Small Enterprise act updates, postponed extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations, an International Trade Administration Commission’s customs duty increase and more.

Directive in respect to the access to the labour in light of the Covid-19 pandemic

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, many institutions have not been able to operate as normal, and one such institution is the Labour Court. The court is an essential service but it is still required to operate in a manner that safeguards all staff and members of the public who are part of hearings and court proceedings.

In light of these requirements, the office of the Judge President of the Labour Courts has published directive number I/2021: Directive in Respect to the Access to the Labour Court in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which came into effect on 18 January 2021.

The focus of the directive is to minimise physical contact within the courts while making provision for alternative methods for hearings to take place. To ensure that all activities can run as smoothly as possible, the directive also makes provision for submission of evidence, the removal of matters from the roll and applications for individuals who are found to be in contempt of court.

The provisions set out by Directive I/2021 will remain in place for the duration of the lockdown and may be revised in light of changing risk parameters. Follow this link for a complete transcript of the directive.

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations postponed

The implementation of the EPR regulations has been postponed to 5 May 2021. This follows a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), Barbara Creecy, in December 2020. The industries expressed concerns as some issues in the regulations required amendments for some sectors to comply.

The extension will allow existing producers, and producer responsibility organisations, to register with the department before 5 November 2021. The regulations give effect to Sections 18 and 69 of the Waste Act and apply to the paper, packaging (including electrical and electronic equipment, lighting sectors) and some single-use product sectors.

The regulations aim to hold producers responsible for their products and packaging to the end-of-life stage of their life cycle by collecting, sorting, refurbishing, reusing, recycling and/or sustainably disposing of materials. Read more about the Extended Producer Responsibility and Government Gazette Notice G44078 published on 15/01/2021.

Hulamin operations granted a duty increase from 0 to 15% ad valorem

The International Trade Administration Commission (IITAC) has recommended an increase in the general rate of customs duty on aluminium rolled sheets, plates, strips, can stock and foil products. These products, classifiable under tariff headings 76.06 and 76.07, will move from Free of Duty to the WTO bound rate of 15% ad valorem.

The Commission further recommended:

The creation of Schedule 4 rebate provisions to cater for product ranges not manufactured domestically. You can view the tariff subheading catered for by the rebate in the final report.

The proposed duty on the subject products will be reviewed after a minimum of one year following the introduction of tariff support (unless determined otherwise by the Commission) to monitor the performance of the Domestic Industry.

IITAC has published the notice brought in by Hulamin in March 2019 for an increase in the general duty. The subject products are used predominantly in the packaging, transport (road, marine and rail), automotive, marine, construction, general engineering, electronics, energy and white goods industries. Printing SA members were against the increase. View the Commission’s Final Report and Guidelines Relating to the Rebate Provision for the Importation of Rolled Aluminium Products.

National Small Enterprise (draft amendment bill 2020)

The Department of Small Business Development published the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill in December 2020. The bill aims to increase regulation of the country’s small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMME). The bill will also make provision for the establishment of a Small Enterprise Ombud Service. This will act as a support function to the minister.

The bill will give the minister and ombudsman powers to further regulate small businesses in South Africa, focusing on the issue of unfair trading practices. The minister may also introduce regulations requiring specified enterprises to provide information about their contracting and payment practices, and policies relating to small enterprises. View the notice here.

National energy act (buildings)

On 8 December 2020, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy published regulations for the mandatory display and submission of Energy Performance Certificates for buildings, with a two-year transitional measure for compliance, for affected entities.

These regulations apply to both government and private building owners, or if you are responsible for a building with a total net floor area of over 1000sqm. Owners or managers of these buildings must display a certificate ‘Energy Performance’ at the building’s main entrance. The Energy Performance refers to the net-energy consumed in kilowatt-hours per square metre per year. The Energy Performance includes heating, hot water heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting. The Energy Performance certificate must also be submitted to the South African National Energy Development Institute. View the notice here.

Inkish learn with US programme

Inkish has released the dates of their week-long 2021 Learn With Us (Again) Programme, supported by Printing SA. Their programme kicks off from 15 February 2021 with classes taking place daily from 10am-4pm CET, and registration is already open.

The schedule for the Learn With Us (Again) Programme is as follows:

– Monday 15 February: dryers, controllers and printhead technology.
– Tuesday 16 February: label packaging.
– Wednesday 17 February: commercial print.
– Thursday 18 February: substrate application workflow business.
– Friday 19 February: enhancement finishing.

Check out their promotional video and visit the Inkish website for more information.

Please contact Printing SA for more information.

Printing SA welcomes new recruit

The management of Printing SA is proud to welcome Matshidiso Pitsoe to its Johannesburg Chamber. Pitsoe completed her high school education at St. Catherine’s Convent before spending time at the University of Johannesburg. She is currently in her third year at Unisa, where she is studying BCom Accounting Science and after graduating, she plans on completing her Honours as well. Pitsoe is passionate about anything finance and accounting related. She joins Printing SA on a fixed-term contract and given her abilities, the organisation knows that she will excel in her role.