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Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has been widely criticised for the R20 an hour minimum wage agreement he signed on Tuesday.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said it was not even enough for Ramaphosa’s dog to survive on.
Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said the amount is a “slave wage”.
Ramaphosa countered this by saying he preferred being criticised for doing something, as opposed to not doing anything at all to start the process of combating inequality, unemployment and poverty.
“We had to start somewhere to create balance and play it safe,” he said. “We are criticised all round for it, but hey, it is better to be criticised having done something instead of being criticised for doing nothing."
Ramaphosa quelled concerns from labour and business. He said: “I have been lambasted and called all sorts of names. We are doing this for 6.6 million lives. It won’t be improved by slogans and people standing on podiums saying that lives will be improved.”
READ: Ramaphosa concedes R20 is not a living wage
From a labour perspective, he pointed to a provision which rules that businesses can’t change their hours or conditions of employment due to the national minimum wage. He added that businesses can apply to be exempt from the minimum wage.
However, Fin24 user P O M is not impressed. He says: "It is pathetic when you look holistically at the level of unemployment that keeps on rising every day. Our leaders are buying buffaloes instead of funding education for our poor black children. Leaders are taking money out of our country for their own good and that of their friends.
"This must stop and start focusing on real issues to mend what has been torn for the good of our young democracy."
Debby Lucke has a different take on the issue. She writes: "There has been much condemnation for the newly signed minimum wage of R3 500, by the labour unions. How does the govt expect a family of 4 or more to survive on this amount, etc.
"What is never mentioned, is that this amount is not for a whole family to survive on! Both partners in the family should ideally be working and if not, surely some thought should be put into not having too many children that you cannot feed/clothe/educate. This problem is prevalent throughout the world!
"If both parents of a family are earning even the new minimum wage, it is certainly a start!"
Zakhele Lengoati Sr feels R5 000 per month is the absolute minimum workers should be taking home each month. He writes:
"What is R3 500/m going to do in a country where basic food is expensive? Public transport is not safe and is expensive as well. This amount is like a spat on the people that will be earning it.
"The minimum wage in this country should not be anything less than R5 000 after deductions, even though this should have been implemented about 5-10yrs ago.
"No one in this day and age should be earning less than R5 000/m in this country. Otherwise the government should find a way to make basic foods very affordable to accommodate this R3 500 minimum wage become a living wage. Right now, at this point in time, this minimum wage will still not be enough."
However, Kate has a swift response: "Saying goodbye to my Lady....and how many more will lose their jobs? If you can't afford it you do it yourself. Maybe it's good for my figure and health."
