Share

Minimum wages on the cards at labour indaba

Johannesburg - A national minimum wage will be a central discussion at the upcoming labour indaba, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said on Saturday.

"Most workers are not aware of their rights. Minimum wage also does not mean workers should be trapped into earning the minimum wage in perpetuity," she said in a speech prepared for delivery.

She was speaking to 700 domestic workers during a meeting in Galeshewe near Kimberley, Northern Cape.

A labour relations indaba - convened by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa - is set to be held on November 4.

Oliphant said that the Portfolio Committee on Labour had already started its public hearings and the department was in the process of hosting its own, in order to gather input on the national minimum wage framework.

"As the department of labour we are having all these public participation programmes to enable workers to tell us their problems and provide possible solutions."

She said that in terms of legislation, domestic workers had a right to annual, maternity and compassionate leave, a minimum wage and other worker rights.

"The workers should be appreciated...[for] what they are doing," she said.

The domestic workers' current three-year sectoral determination which governs minimum wage and conditions of employment ends on November 30.

Currently, the minimum wages stipulated for domestic workers working in major cities and for more than 27 hours per week, must be R9.63 per hour or R433.35 per week for a 45 hour week and R1 877.70 per month, for a 45 hour week.

Minimum wages for those working in smaller towns and rural areas are R8.30 per hour or R373.50 per week for a 45 hour week and R1 618.37 per month for a 45 hour week.

Oliphant said South Africa had 657 000 registered domestic workers in its Unemployment Insurance Fund database and some 646 578 employers.

However, she said the numbers were a drop in the ocean, as there were many more unregistered workers and employers in the sector.

Domestic workers were set to benefit from amendments to the unemployment insurance fund legislation, said the minister.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.97
-0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.97
-0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.51
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.4%
Platinum
906.75
+1.1%
Palladium
1,015.63
+1.4%
Gold
2,208.55
+0.6%
Silver
24.60
-0.2%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,222
+0.8%
All Share
74,420
+0.7%
Resource 10
56,938
+2.3%
Industrial 25
103,869
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,500
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders