The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) held its first annual labour conference at Gallagher Convention Centre on 15 and 16 March.
The conference was held under the theme of the National Minimum Wage Bill, graced by various labour-market stakeholders. Director of the CCMA, Cameron Morajane said the aim of the conference was to determine the state of readiness of the CCMA for the implementation of the minimum wage law. “We are not completely ready because the bill is not passed yet. We will be ready once it is passed,” he said.
Morajane said they will offer training and advocacy work to ensure that implementation runs smoothly. He said once the minimum wage law is effective, they would review rules in the CCMA and amend them to fall in line with the requirements of the law supported by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. “We have shared important information regarding processes, practices and procedures to be followed,” he said.
The Minimum Wage Bill requires all employees to be paid a minimum of R20 per hour. However, for vulnerable sectors such as farm workers, they would be required to earn a minimum wage of R17, while domestic workers would earn a minimum of R15 per hour. The law will come into effect on 1 May.
“In the event of non compliance, inspectors at the labour department can be contacted and failing that, the case may be referred to the CCMA to enforce the law. People can, however, approach the CCMA directly,” explained Morajane.
Another conference will take place in 2019 to confirm changes made in the practices and procedures at the CCMA and to evaluate the first year of the minimum wage law.
“People must know where we are in terms of implementation, where to go when they are not paid, how to refer a case and the consequences in the event of non-compliance.”
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