Question NW2031 to the Minister of Employment and Labour
03 June 2022 - NW2031
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
Whether he has developed a strategy to respond to the technological developments in the transport system such as e-hailing, to ensure that those working in the industry have their rights protected as workers; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
In dealing with the digital economy, the Honourable member will know that the President has established a commission. Amongst the others, the Commission is to assist the government in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital economy. The work of the Commission will be tabled at NEDLAC for further discussion on how to come up with policies that will respond to the changes in the labour market.
Over and above this, NEDLAC social partners are hard at work in dealing with how to regulate the e-hailing industry. The first question that must be answered is whether uber workers are employees and if they are employees, what conditions of employment are suitable to their sector as way of introducing a sectoral determination.
Albeit the above, kindly note that the national minimum wage covers all workers, already uber drivers earn above the national minimum wage.
END