Dept seeks to promote retirement saving

An investigation had been initiated to determine the feasibility of introducing an appropriate retirement savings vehicle for vulnerable workers, especially in the farming and domestic work sectors, she told the National Assembly during debate on her budget vote.

"If we are able to put in place a retirement savings scheme for these workers, it will begin to promote a culture of saving for retirement among low-income earners."

This initiative was intended to assist and complement the government's broader social security reform initiatives and was not intended to further fragment savings arrangements in South Africa.

The National Economic Development and Labour Council was also dealing with the International Labour Organisation convention 189, which sought to provide decent work for domestic workers.

"Once concluded, we will move with [the] required speed to ratify this convention," Oliphant said.