Minimum wage deal not set to cover domestic and farm workers immediately
The national minimum wage of R3,500/month will improve the earning power of just more than 6-million workers in various sectors
The national minimum wage of R3,500/month will improve the earning power of just more than 6-million workers in a multitude of sectors. However‚ it could take up to two years for domestic and agriculture workers — after the minimum wage comes into effect next year — to benefit. On Wednesday‚ parties to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) — excluding Cosatu — signed the agreement on the national minimum wage and labour market stability. The national minimum wage of R20/hour or R3,500/month for a 40-hour week would take effect from no later than May next year. Current statistics show that 6.2-million workers‚ or 47.3% of the workforce‚ currently earn below the proposed minimum wage of R3,500/month. These include 90.7% of domestic workers‚ 84.5% of agricultural workers‚ 54.6% of the workers in the construction sector and 48.2% of wholesale and retail workers. Statistics SA data in its report on Labour Market Dynamics in 2014 also show that 60% of workers in th...
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