from the editor
interview NBC
Communication key in conveying provident fund benefits
Reflecting on 2017 with an eye on a promising new year
The Contract Cleaning National Provident Fund (CCNPF) recently won the
This year has been a momentous year filled with an abundance of news and events. Reflecting on 2017, some of the highlights include the visit by a South African cleaning industry delegation to the Pulire show in Verona, Italy, our own international industry event CleantexPulire in June, and the conclusion of a partnership agreement between the ISSA and Cleantex that will set new standards for the 12th edition of the African showcase. Things will start to move at a much faster pace now and this issue offers me the opportunity to formally announce that in partnership with the ISSA, African Cleaning Review will stage an international ISSA Executive Summit during September 2018 in Cape Town. More details regarding delegate packages and sponsorship opportunities will be made available early in 2018. Hopefully 2018 will bring the desired economic stability South Africa seriously needs to grow and create opportunities, enabling all of us to face new challenges in the professional cleaning and related industries. As many will be travelling to holiday destinations, in this issue we focus on the importance of hospitality cleaning and the challenging issues that this industry sector face on a regular basis. To those involved in this specialised market sector, we salute you. With this the final issue of the year, we at African Cleaning Review want to thank you for your continued support and wish you a safe and pleasant December holiday period. We look forward to sharing industry news, latest developments and more announcements with you during the coming year.
at the Institute for Retirement Funds Africa’s (IRFA) 2017 Best Practice
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Best Practice in-Class trophy for a communication project for umbrella funds. The Fund was rewarded for excellence in member communication
Industry Awards (BPIA) and Recognition Programme held in Durban.
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he Fund was recognised for its unique approach to member communication and for its persistence in engaging with members on a face-to-face basis. The Fund’s administrator, NBC, spent many hours planning and interacting with members at road shows. The road show member engagement ’Ask Pule Campaign’ was also rewarded with a Special Merit Certificate. African Cleaning Review spoke to the NBC’s National Head of the Contract Cleaning National Provident Fund, Rajen Pillay about the Fund’s history, activities and benefits offered to the professional cleaning industry.
Overview Negotiated Benefit Consultants (NBC) was originally a branch of Alexander Forbes during the 1980s and early 1990s when trade unions and employers were negotiating for all staff to enjoy employee benefits and to become members of retirement funds. NBC championed the idea that members should have representation on trustee boards and thus be equally involved in the running thereof. Equal member and employer representation on the boards of trustees, became law in 1994. During 1998 a management buyout of Branch 7 from Alexander Forbes, saw the creation of the first black-owned financial services company in the new
South Africa – NBC Holdings (Pty) Ltd (NBC). NBC, together with the labour movement, advocated for provident funds to be set up by legislation for certain sectors of the labour force in both the informal and industrial cleaning and security sectors. The government, by passing legislation, thus brought into existence two sectorial funds: one for the cleaning industry and one for the private security industry. It is compulsory for all employers operating in the cleaning industry to register with the Contract Cleaning National Provident Fund, which was launched in 2001. Stakeholders in the cleaning industry, including employer associations such as the National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA), BEECA Cleaning Association and the different trade unions, nominate and elect the 18 trustees who form the management board of the CCNPF. The nine member trustees and nine employer trustees are responsible for all decisions taken pertaining to the Fund and its investments.
What does NBC offer cleaning sector members? Because of its unique history NBC has a clear understanding of both union and employer dynamics, which allows it to facilitate effectively between both parties.