26 January 2005
PUBLIC WORKS ISSUES IN BRITAIN, CANADA AND CHINA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This brief will summarise the main points of three briefs focusing on the above topic' and will conclude by evaluating the three countries concerned, viz. Britain, Canada and China, in order of their relevance to public works issues in South Africa.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Britain
- Britain is a developed country with relatively low poverty and unemployment levels.
- Public works issues are dealt with by several departments including the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works (MPB).
- The construction industry employs 1,4 million people and is one the strongest in the world.
- The MPB does not have a specific job creation programme, but its construction programme does create jobs.
- There is no specific poverty alleviation programme, but a number social intervention plans are in place that are dealt with by other Government departments.
- While there are huge socio-economic differences between South Africa and Britain that make it difficult to conduct comparisons, it would be of value to South Africa to gain a closer understanding of the way in which public works projects are conducted.
- In addition, it would also be of relevance to gain insight into the way in which other government departments implement their programmes that result in job creation and poverty alleviation.
CANADA
- Canada is a highly developed and resourced country with relatively low unemployment level and a low level of poverty.
- Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) handle,' public works issues and also offers additional services government departments such as interpreting, finance and information technology.
- The PWGSC manages more than 2 000 construction project annually, totalling Can$700 million.
- The private sector construction industry is Canada's largest industry, with a workforce of nearly 1 million, producing Can$121 billion in goods and services.
- The PWGSC does not have a specific job creation programme However, its various programmes and services result in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs throughout the country.
- The PWSGC does not have a specific poverty alleviation programme. However, certain of its programmes, through the job creation aspect, do contribute towards poverty alleviation.
- Comparisons between Canada as a highly developed and resourced country and South Africa as a developing African country with a severe socio-economic backlog to address are extremely difficult.
- While Canada's sophisticated and efficiently functioning PWSGC offers an excellent model to emulate, South Africa's current socio economic realities and the lack of financial and skilled human resources faced by the country's National Public Works Department. present major stumbling blocks.
CHINA
- China is developing country
- Public works and construction are undertaken by the Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry of Construction.
- A number of massive public works projects based on a labour-intensive approach aimed at job creation (such as the construction of roads and the development of a public transport system), have been launched in the past eight years.
- China has implemented several Poverty Reduction Programmes linked to public works, dating back to 1986.
- The Ministry of Construction is responsible for village and town planning, the construction industry and public works construction.
- The construction market took off in 1992 as the economy improved. Notwithstanding the rapid growth of the construction industry however, it has been plagued with problems such as poor planning, substandard building techniques, poorly trained workers and lack of advanced technology.
- China is a developing country facing enormous socio-economic challenges. Like South Africa, its focus in public works matters is on the development of infrastructure, job creation and poverty alleviation.
- Like South Africa, China faces numerous difficulties in implementing its public works programmes.
- Given the similarities in the challenges facing the two countries, there would be great value and relevance in a closer examination of China's public works and related programmes.
CONCLUSION
Based on the comparative analysis detailed above, the order of relevance to South Africa for the three countries evaluated, is as follows:
1. China
2. Britain
3. Canada
It is therefore concluded that the proposed study tour to be undertaken by the Public Works Portfolio Committee should be to China.
REFERENCES
F Khan. 2005: Public works issues in Canada - Its value and relevance to public works issues in South Africa. Report for the Public Works Portfolio Committee, Parliament of South Africa, 24 January.
J Mokoena. 2005: Public works issues in Britain - Its value and relevance to public works issues in South Africa. Report for the Public Works Portfolio Committee, Parliament of South Africa, 24 January.
J Mpanyane. 2005: Public works issues in China - Its value and relevance to public works issues in South Africa. Report for the Public Works Portfolio Committee, Parliament of South Africa, 25 January.