Nedlac policy sessionagrees to process for discussing guidelines for competition policy
Thursday, 27 November 1997

At a special policy session of Nedlac's Trade andIndustry Chamber today, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, presented theDepartment of Trade and Industry's proposed guidelines for competition policy.

It was agreed by the social partners in Nedlacthat a discussion of the guidelines would take place under the auspices of the Trade andIndustry Chamber during the first three months of 1998.

The Minister indicated that, following thisprocess of consultation with the social partners, he intended publishing a draft bill inMarch 1998. A three-month period of public comment and consultation will then take place,after which the bill will be finalised. The Minister intends tabling the bill inParliament before the end of September 1998.

While not commenting on the contents of thecompetition-policy guidelines tabled today, both the business and labour delegations tothe policy session agreed to the process proposed by the Minister. They stated theirintention to contribute to the discussions in Nedlac in a constructive manner.