National minimum wage

National minimum wage

Government and its social partners have been negotiating the question of a national minimum wage since 2014. At present, a number of sector-specific minimum wages are in place, but many workers are left out. The discussions have been marred by delays, with the parties struggling to agree on what amount will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the lowest paid workers, while ensuring that economic growth and job creation can be sustained. Following threats by labour at the slow pace of negotiations, a panel of experts has been put together to 'review, assess the impact and advise on the most feasible level' and a national minimum wage is expected to be determined in three months. Some parliamentarians expressed concern that 80% of people in SA do not earn a decent wage and stressed that this needed to be rectified.