NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE BILL
Our mistake, Department of Labour concedes
The Department of Labour has conceded that it erred when it changed the wording of the definition of "worker" in the National Minimum Wage Bill. The admission follows Business Day reports detailing how the bill, which was gazetted in November 2017, went against recommendations of experts and a National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) agreement. In the bill, "workers" are defined as employees as per the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which would result in the exclusion of millions of independent contractors, subcontractors and task-based workers and limit the reach of the minimum wage coverage. The department said on Wednesday that it would correct the error. It said it was never its intention to deviate from the Nedlac agreement made between the government, business and labour. "The department regrets the change of wording in the definition published in the November version of the Bill. The change occurred during the certification process between the office of ...
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