Following a process which began in 2007, the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) has launched the B.U.I.L.D Programme with an implementation date of 1 April 2021. This pertains to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, National Government departments, public entities and clients implementing Strategic Integrated projects (SIPs) for projects of a minimum of grade 7 level with a duration of at least 6 months. This will be followed by the private sector in October 2021, Provincial government and metropolitan areas will follow in April 2022 and district and local municipalities in April 2023.

The B.U.I.L.D programme mandates infrastructure clients to apply standards declared by the Minister as best practice on all construction projects of R60M or more in contract value.

It establishes the standards that infrastructure clients must perform to, in terms of their contribution to the construction industry development as well as mandating them to contribute financially to a national development fund, whose aim is to finance a wide range of construction industry development objectives.

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure has declared two standards applicable to the cidb B.U.I.L.D programme, viz.

“The Standard for Indirect Targeting for Enterprise Development through Construction Works and The Standard for Developing Skills through Infrastructure Contracts.”

When calling for tenders on projects valued from R60m, clients must specify the requirement for contractors and Built Environment Professionals (BEP) consulting agencies to comply with these standards. Contractors and consulting agencies will, therefore, be able to build the cost of contributing to these standards in their tender prices.

The standards will benefit TVET College learners, graduates seeking professional candidacy and contractors in cidb grades 1 to 6. The standards provide for creation of workplace learning opportunities for these target groups, as well as development support for emerging enterprises.

Through the cidb B.U.I.L.D Programme, the construction industry is empowered to take collective responsibility and pride in building the industry towards growth, sustainability, and professionalism. This is a positive step forward to improving our contribution to the economy and society as the construction industry.

The Standard for Indirect Targeting for Enterprise Development through Construction Works

The Standard for Indirect Targeting for Enterprise Development will be implemented as per the dates in paragraph one for projects of a minimum of grade 7 level with a duration of at least 6 months and will set goals for developing emerging contractors on public sector projects through subcontracting and joint ventures. It establishes contract participation goals for enterprise development of targeted enterprises. It requires the lead partner or main contractor to dedicate a minimum of 5% of total project value to provide development support to targeted subcontractor or joint venture partners. This would be applicable to contacts in Grade 7 to 9 General Building and Civil Engineering contracts. The requirement for contactors to comply will be specified in the contract data for the construction works by the client.

CIDB Standard for Developing Skills through Infrastructure Contracts

The CIDB Standard for Developing Skills will be implemented as per the dates in paragraph one for projects of a minimum value of R5M for public projects and R10M for private projects with a duration of at least 12 months. This Standard seeks to set goals for providing workplace training to interns and for the upskilling of employees in programmes that result in nationally accredited outcomes. It establishes minimum contract skills development goals for workplace opportunities leading to:

• a part or full occupational qualification,
• a trade qualification leading to a trade test,
• a national diploma, or
• registration in a professional category by a statutory council.

The objective is that 10% of the labour force on construction sites and in design offices receive structured workplace skills training per year. On public sector projects, this will mount to R450M spend on workplace training per annum with 10 000 learning opportunities for TVET leaners and artisans and 1 500 learning opportunities for candidates seeking professional registration.

The role of the contractor

The Contractor will provide workplace learning opportunities through direct employment of learners from colleges and indirect employment through a Skills Development Agency such as the cidb and appoint coaches and mentors as stipulated. They will be required to submit a compliance baseline plan within 30 days after the award of the contract, quarterly compliance reports and a final compliance report 30 days after practical completion. The contractor will provide a supervisor to manage the training of the learners/candidates.

Skills Development Agency

Provision has been made for the establishment of a Skills Development Agency (SDA) to facilitate structured workplace training for beneficiaries of the cidb Standard for Developing Skills through Infrastructure Contracts. The role of the SDA will be to prepare training plans, register learners, conduct entry and exit medicals for learners, arrange summative assessments, provide trade test opportunities and prepare reports for the employer’s representative and cidb at practical completion of the contract.

Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal looks forward to the positive ripple effect these Standards will have on the upliftment of skills in the construction industry.