27 August 2009

 While welcoming the news that the Services Seta and the Estate Agency Affairs Board are settling their differences, the Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA) is deeply concerned that the bursary scheme for agents wishing to obtain the new industry qualifications is still on hold.

 The SSETA announced last month that it had decided to suspend its bursary programme for agents working towards their RPL, as well as the NQF4 and NQF5 qualifications pending the outcome of dispute negotiations between itself and the EAAB.

 However, notes IEASA national president Dr Willie Marais, while that dispute has now been resolved, the bursary scheme has not been revived and will, according to a joint announcement by the SSETA and the EAAB, remain suspended until its effectiveness to date has been “fully evaluated”.

 “In short, there is currently no financial help available for existing agents who need training to obtain the new qualifications – which they are required by law to have before the end of 2011 - and many of the agents who are ready to undertake this training are now in limbo.”

 Marais is quick to point out that the organised real estate industry fully supports the Department of Trade and Industry’s new education and training requirements for agents, which will result in higher standards of service to property consumers. “Unfortunately the regulations were promulgated at least a year too soon, as the preparatory work was not in place then, and is still not complete for the NQF5 and NQF7 qualification levels.

 “And there is no doubt that these requirements place a financial burden on agents - which is particularly onerous in the current economic climate. Indeed, the total training bill for just for those agents currently registered with the board is estimated at about R400m.

 “In the light of this, we believe the bursary scheme should be re-instated without delay – and funded as before by the employee skills development levies that the real estate industry itself is still paying.”

 He warns that anger is mounting among agents at the “impossible position” in which they now find themselves - and notes that the real estate industry is now organised in such a way through IEASA that agents can legally take mass action against anyone who threatens the normal working of the industry, by way of the structures set up for organised labour and business.

Verbeurde beurse ontstel agente

 27 Augustus 2009

 Die Instituut van Eiendomsagente (IEASA) verwelkom die nuus dat die Dienste Seta en die Raad op Eiendomsagentskapaangeleenthede (REAA) besig is om die strydbyl te begrawe – maar is diep bekommerd dat die beursskema vir agente wat die nuwe bedryfskwalifkasies wil bekom steeds in gedrang is.

 Die Seta het verlede maand aangekondig dat dit besluit het om die beursskema vir agente wat die NQF4 en NQF5 kwalifikasies of sertifisering van vooraf verworwe kennis wil verwerf, opgehef is hangende die uitslag van onderhandelings om die dispuut tussen die Seta en die REEA by te lê.

 Maar, sê IEASA se nasionale president dr Willie Marais, hoewel díe dispuut nou iets van die verlede is, is die beursskema nie weer ingestel nie en sal volgens ‘n gesamentlike aankondiging deur die Seta en die REAA opgehef bly totdat die doeltreffendheid daarvan “ten volle ge-evalueer” is.

 “Kortom, daar bestaan tans geen geldelike bystand vir bestaande agente wat opleiding nodig het om die nuwe kwalifikasie te verwerf nie. Volgens wet moet agente dié kwalifikasies voor die einde van 2011 bekom – en baie van die agente wat nou gereed is om verdere opleiding te ontvang, word in die steek gelaat.”

 Marais wys daarop dat die georganiseerde eiendomsbedryf die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid se nuwe opleidingsvereistes vir agente ten volle ondersteun aangesien dit tot beter diensstandaarde vir eiendomsverbruikers sal lei. “Ongelukkig is die regulasies minstens ‘n jaar te vroeg afgekondig aangesien die nodige voorbereiding nie in plek was nie – en steeds nie vir die NQF5 en NQF7 kwalifikasies afgehandel is nie.

 “Die opleidingsvereistes plaas ongetwyfeld ‘n groot geldelike las op agente se skouers – wat veral in die heersende ekonomiese klimaat ‘n wesenlike probleem is. Die algehele rekening vir die opleiding van net die agente wat by die raad geregistreer is, word inderdaad op sowat R400m geraam.

 “In die lig hiervan glo ons die beursskema moet onverwyld weer ingestel word – en soos tevore deur die heffings vir ontwikkeling van vaardighede, wat die eiendomsbedryf self steeds betaal, befonds word.”

 Hy maan dat agente toenemend ontstoke is oor die “onmoontlike situasie” waarin hulle hulself nou bevind – en wys voorts daarop dat die bedryf nou deur IEASA so georganiseer is dat agente deur die strukture wat vir georganiseerde arbeid en sake geskep is, regmatig massa-optrede kan instel teen enigeen wat die normale funksionering van die bedryf belemmer.