Ramaphosa announces proposed national minimum wage
Releasing the report of the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the proposed national minimum wage.
An advisory panel that researched the figure found that R3500 or R20 an hour should be the starting point when it comes to discussions.
Various stakeholders including government, business and unions will now discuss the report with the hopes of an agreement on a national minimum wage being reached by January. Ramaphosa stressed that the figure is a proposal - and not a suitable living wage.
Speaking at a briefing in Johannesburg yesterday, Ramaphosa said it is a step in the right direction.
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"We are hoping that with inaugurating or embracing a national minimum wage - the level which we will agree to will and should have an impact on inequality and wage poverty. Now 47% of South Africans earning below R3500 is something that we should all be worried about," he said.
The ANC has welcomed the announcement - saying it goes a long way towards government's mandate of implementing a national minimum wage.
The DA says it is studying the proposals while the EFF rejected the figure, saying it favours business at the expense of workers.