Competition Commission trains sights on furniture removers and safety trainers

The Competition Commission has referred five companies allegedly involved in cartels to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution.

Three of the companies – J&H Furniture Removals in Potchefstroom‚ Langs Removals in Strand‚ Western Cape‚ and Stanley's Removals in Durban – are linked to a cartel in the furniture removal industry.

They are among 69 companies in the industry investigated by the Commission over the past five years.

The Commission alleges that the three firms have been involved in numerous separate cases of collusion with two other companies – JH Retief Transport and Cape Express Removals – and is asking the Competition Tribunal to fine the companies 10% of their annual turnover.

This is the maximum penalty the tribunal may impose on a company found guilty of cartel conduct.

The Commission reached consent agreements with Cape Express Removals and JH Retief Transport in October and November last year.

The Commission is also asking the tribunal to impose the same fine on Global Risk Control Management (GSRCM) and Real Tree Trading for allegedly fixing the price of their services to steel manufacting giant ArcelorMittal South Africa.

The companies offer Safety Health Environmental Risk Quality services to manufacturing plants across the country. Safety induction training are among the services they offer.

According to the commission‚ the companies agreed to keep the price of this training above R200 per person.

RDM News Wire.