The Electronics Industry Federation (EIF), representing at least 25% of the local ICT industry, looks set to adopt the Department of Trade and Industry`s (DTI`s) Code of Good Practice on equity and empowerment, rather than the ICT industry`s empowerment charter.
The ICT industry empowerment charter steering committee is in final consultations with the various industry sub-sectors this week, to discuss the final draft of the charter, which was released earlier this month.
In a paper presented this afternoon, EIF representatives were expected to voice support for all empowerment initiatives - including the charter - but to state that the EIF has decided to adopt the DTI`s code rather than the charter.
It is understood that the move is based on the complexity of trying to follow two separate sets of empowerment guidelines, and follows extensive talks on the issue.
EIF general secretary Roger Dawes confirmed this afternoon that the EIF had made a presentation at an open session at Nedlac today, in which "certain recommendations" were made. He could not provide further information, since the discussions continued until late this afternoon. However, he rejected any suggestion that the EIF did not support the charter process.
The question of 'double jeopardy` - a situation in which an industry sub-sector is regulated by more than one set of empowerment guidelines - also raised stumbling blocks for the broadcast and telecommunications sub-sectors earlier in the ICT empowerment charter drafting process.
Dawes added that the broadcast and telecoms sub-sectors had again raised concerns in today`s talks.
The EIF represents the electronics and telecoms sectors, and is affiliated to the World Electronics Forum. It has around 60 members, including multinationals, local companies and associations.
The EIF decision comes days after the ICT charter steering committee expressed confidence that major issues had been ironed out and that the final charter would be in operation by the second half of 2005.
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