National Minimum Wage

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says once implemented, the National Minimum Wage will improve the welfare of the lowest paid in South Africa. He made these remarks when he appeared before the National Assembly to field oral questions from Members of Parliament.

Last month, a panel of experts that was appointed to deliberate on the National Minimum Wage recommended R3 500 a month, or R20 per hour.  Currently, 47% of the South African population earn below this amount.

Since that announcement, the Deputy President has been meeting bilaterally with Nedlac social partners to receive feedback from their constituencies and to find common ground among the partners to move the country forward on the issue of the National Minimum Wage.

Among the issues that members of the National Assembly raised is affordability and whether the minimum wage could be extended to foreign nationals.

The Deputy President said South Africa’s labour laws cover all employees in South Africa regardless of their nationality and where they come from. Employers who do not comply, whether their employees are South African or whether they come from other countries, will face penalties.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Labour has welcomed the announcement, saying that this will save the most vulnerable workers from further exploitation.