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Minimum wage for taxi drivers

Johannesburg - The National Taxi Council (Santaco), which represents more than 100 000 taxi owners across the country, has committed itself to a minimum wage and basic conditions of employment in the taxi industry.

Santaco's officials met Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana and other senior officials of the Department of Labour in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The minister explained to the taxi operators that the department, through the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC), was still involved in the process of consultation.

He urged the taxi owners to urgently engage with the representatives at the ECC as time was of paramount importance.

"The sectoral determination is nearing completion and we would like to consult with all stake holders and reach consensus on the proposed minimum wage. Therefore, there is still room for more input," Mdladlana said in a statement.

Assuring taxi operators that he would not rush the promulgation of the sectoral determination, he, however, warned that the process must be speeded up as consultations began way back in 1999 with public hearings across the country.

Earlier on taxi drivers represented by the South African Transport Allied Workers Union (Satawu) threatened to march to the Department of Labour and stage a sit-in in the minister's office in an attempt to exert pressure on the Department to fast-track the promulgation of the Sectoral Determination.

"The taxi industry, which accounts for 65% of all public transport commuter trips, employs around 185 000 drivers who do not enjoy the benefit of a minimum wage and basic conditions of employment," the Minister said.

"We would like to see taxi drivers being paid a decent wage and protected by the Labour Relations Act. I am happy that Santaco has no problems with the principle of promulgating a sectoral determination for the sector. Our meeting today was very successful," said Mdladlana.

Santaco General-Manager Reginald Mutsi said there was no reason to oppose anything in the Labour Relations Act. "There is no resistance from our side. All we are requesting is constant consultation and communication," he said.

The taxi owners committed themselves to working with the department to create a climate conducive towards the implementation of the sectoral determination once promulgated.

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