‘Blunder changed’ employee definition in minimum wage bill
Labour federations are shocked by the terminology in National Minimum Wage Bill
The narrow definition of workers as "employees" used in the National Minimum Wage Bill was not agreed on when the policy was drafted at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). Labour federations which were part of the negotiations said they were shocked to discover that a broader definition was replaced by "employee", which would exclude independent contractors among other vulnerable groups of workers. Cosatu and Fedusa said it appeared the Department of Labour and other government representatives involved in the legislation process had made a blunder by replacing "worker", which was intended to cover those who may fall through the cracks by broadening the definition’s scope, with the narrower "employee", as defined in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. This would not be the first time a bill sponsored by the Department of Labour is challenged by parties to Nedlac. The Unemployment Insurance Fund Bill was returned to Parliament when it was due to be signe...
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