Unfortunately the electrical industry has changed and what used to work and be sustainable is no longer so
The construction industry has not recovered since Covid for various reasons , online shopping , remote working etc both meaning that less shopping center space and office space are needed
We used to get numerous calls for the odd light fitting replacement , socket outlet not working , pool pump tripped etc - We no longer get those calls as we are perceived as expensive due to increasing NBCEI rates .
What has happened is that the handyman is now carrying out that work at a lower rate as he does not have the forced rates and bonuses

With the idea that the whole country should pay the same rate to the various categories and certain areas having increases at 2% above CPI has made it worse - We have regular contracted clients that have refused to accept any increase in rates above CPI since Covid/2020 which has effectively eaten into profit margins , with lack of work in the industry you get forced into accepting the rates with the hope that the industry improves and then you can renegotiate at strength

Main contractors are delaying payments causing cash flow issues which in turn can lead to higher costs and legal fees - We are being queried by SARS on a couple of cases we have running , the courts have a back log and clients know that which means you can delay a case by 4 years

NBCEI passes the agreement onto non parties as it claims to have ECA and Unions as greater than 50% representing contractors registered with NBCEI - The way I bump heads with various so called contractors I honestly find it difficult to believe that more than 70% of people running around carrying out electrical contracting work actually belong to council - That would then put the Parties at only representing 40% of electrical contractors.

We starting to go the same way as motor industry where the big players that employ less and less due to automation ended up closing the " jobbing engineering shops" which has left a gap in the market and people complaining that there is a shortage of skills

The small builders are employing there own " semi Skilled electricians " to carry out the small works and alterations , which I have experienced first hand when they could not connect up a fan controller - What made it worse is that it was actually an insurance claim the originated from a burst geyser destroying ceilings , TV in the bedrooms and passage way
All the downlighters and socket outlets where replaced by the builders guys including the fan that they could not get working.

NBCEI and parties are making it more regulated and thereby forcing more illegal contractors.
In this area we have a so called contractor that employs nobody writing out +/- 250 COC a month for new connections - The news I am getting is that he signs off for +/- 10 so called contractors doing townhouse complexes - DOL is aware and doing nothing , NBCEI is aware and doing nothing while the legitimate contractor losses the work - AIA's have condemned 6 of the units and submitted paperwork to DOL 3 years ago

Go figure