POLOKWANE – The proposed minimum wage announced by government of R20 per hour or about R3 500 per month was received with mixed reactions by many South Africans.
If one considers only the comments from the Facebook timelines of various publications running this story, it is clear that a large portion of the population does not approve of the proposed number.
It especially does not bode well for breadwinners who depend on their minimum wages to provide for their families.
This while government officials from all spheres who make headlines for irregular expenditure and receive exorbitant salaries with perks to live lavish lifestyles.
Limpopo is one of the most poverty-stricken provinces and thousands of people living in rural areas that stretch over vast stretches of land do not get this information about corruption mainly because of lack of development, especially regarding modern communication platforms such as social media, the internet and even newspapers.
They are the people that are affected the most but who do not know about the irregularities.
With today’s high living costs, the proposed new minimum wage is viewed as unfair and is expected to stall and even further widen the gap between the rich and the poor. Proposals for lower fuel and food prices could offer a solution, but the chances of that happening are slim.
Businesses heavily burdened by tax simply state they will not be able to comply with the new minimum wage proposal. This could also affect households with domestic workers who, because they are not able to pay more than what they are currently paying, will either cut the working days of – or lay off – their domestic workers.
This means more people will likely lose their jobs, adding to the already high unemployment rate South Africa is currently experiencing. It seems there is a fine line between what people think is an acceptable minimum wage and what the solution could be to make this wage acceptable and affordable to live on.
People must learn how to survive without relying on government grants, or expecting government to create even more grants. The ideal solution could be that government create more jobs.
One way of doing that is to attract more international investors and boost their confidence in the country. But for that to happen, the political landscape needs an urgent revamp, as the politicians in control at present are hampering the progress of the country and the future of its citizens.
What do you think?
What is the best way to close the gap between the rich and the poor? Understanding that not everyone can be rich but that everyone should be able to make a decent living on minimum wages.
