Seychelles Planning Authority |30 April 2018
Contracts mandatory to better protect consumers
As of tomorrow, May 1, all new licensees and new requests for upgrading of licenses in the field of construction, mainly involving engineers, construction contractors, architects, draughts men and surveyors will be introduced to a new module focusing on the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and Fair Trading.
Furthermore, in the coming months it will become mandatory for all contractors undertaking construction activities to declare to the Seychelles Planning Authority upon submission of commencement notices that they have entered into a formal written contract with their clients and that the content of their contract is in line with the conditions and provisions stipulated in their license. The Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) will monitor that.
This is aimed at curbing unfair, dishonest trade practices, substandard construction work and services, breach of verbal contract made with unsuspecting and often vulnerable clients who have taken loans to carry out construction projects and once they have been deceived and swindled by unscrupulous service providers do not know how to get redress.
The new measures were announced by the chief executive of the Seychelles Planning Authority Joseph François during the authority’s annual working and discussion session with engineers, construction contractors, architects, draughts men, surveyors and other stakeholders and partners in the construction sector.
Mr François said the new measures are the result of collaboration between the Seychelles Planning Authority, the Fair Trading Commission and Seychelles Licensing Authority and they are also aimed at eventually boosting public confidence in the construction industry.
While admitting that the construction industry in Seychelles is ever-growing in complexity, not only to deliver on critical infrastructure, but also on the complexity of human interactions, the fact remains that service providers in the sector has the responsibility to deliver quality services to the public they serve.
“It is most important that we discuss and find ways and means to improve on the services that we offer to the public and improve on our efficiency throughout all processes involved. It is what we do and how we do to fit within the bigger picture of government plans and objectives to deliver for the people of Seychelles that matters,” Mr François stated.
The meeting was also an opportunity to showcase different achievements in planning through a series of presentations and for the different stakeholders to voice their concerns and share challenges on different matters relating to their work.
