The Department of Labour held a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the new National Minimum Wage Act and Amendments at Hotel@ Tzaneen recently.
“The objective of the meeting was to reach out to trade unions and employers to educate them on the new National Minimum Wage Act. “And amendments to basic conditions of employment, and to amend the labour relations act,” said Sellinah Mahlangu, Acting DeputyDirector on Collective Bargaining.
Government will officially introduce the act and amendments on May 1 2018.
According to the new changes, farm workers will move from being paid R15.39 per hour to R18.00 per hour.
Read: NEW MINIMUM WAGE: ‘Four hours per day would be payable’
Meanwhile domestic workers will move from R12.00 to R15.00 per hour and also the EPWE workers will move from R7.00 to R11.00 per hour.
“We think that this new act will help the vulnerable workers such as farm workers and domestic workers to take their kids to university. It will improve their living standards,” said David Mashaba, Yarona Kopano Workers Union South Africa.
Stephen Rathai, Director of Employment Standards, also outlined picketing rules which includes that no party can start picketing without permission from the CCMA.
The CCMA will try to consolidate the matter with the two parties but if the parties cannot reach an agreement, the CCMA will grant certificates for the strike to take place peacefully.
Rathai also emphasised that parties are not allowed to force other people to strike, because they also have rights not to strike.
Employees who are paid less according to the labour standards can report the matter to the Department and if they don’t trust the labour inspector they can contact their nearest CCMA office.
