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The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has slammed the draft National Minimum Wage Bill as an attack on the working class and an attempt to create a “pool of cheap labour”.
This comes after the Department of Labour released the much-anticipated bill, which proposed a national minimum wage of R20 per hour.
The bill, if passed into law, is expected to increase the earnings of more than six million working South Africans.
Numsa acting national spokeswoman Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “The ANC-led government is attacking the working class with changes to the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and it intends to implement the National Minimum Wage Bill.
“Together these changes are an attack on the working class and families because they reduce the hard-won rights which workers fought and died for under apartheid. One of the greatest threats to the working class is the proposal to limit the right to strike.”
The proposed bill has been criticised by many for excluding independent contractors and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers.
The bill is expected to be signed into law by May 1.
The union said it will work with various stakeholders to fight the implementation of the bill.
“We are working with progressive, left, pro-working class movements to defend the rights of all workers. Together with the Casual Workers Advice Office, Lawyers for Human Rights, United Front, General Industries Workers Union Of South Africa and other working class movements we will fight to protect the right to strike,” said Majola.
“The state wants to create a pool of cheap labour, which is unable to use the right to strike as a tool to negotiate better working conditions. They want to take away the power of workers to decide when to go on strike and when to end a strike.”
The agreed national minimum wage will force employers to pay emploeers R20 per hour excluding farm and domestic workers sectors.
The minimum wage for farm workers will be R18 per hour, and domestic workers R15 per hour. The minimum wage for workers on an Expanded Public Works Programme will be R11 per hour.
The EFF accused the ANC of stealing its idea to introduce a national minimum wage, and watered it down as their own.
EFF national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the EFF caucus will meet to discuss whether to accept or reject the bill in whole, or part of it.
“We had proposed that no one must be paid less than R4 500. With specifications according to sectors, e.g. mining R12 500. We are likely to reject parts of it, as opposed to rejecting the entire idea,” said Ndlozi.
The DA has thrown its weight behind the proposed minimum wage.
DA MP Michael Bagraim said the party welcomes the bill with specific reservations in terms of exemptions afforded to certain industries.
This report by Mary Jane Mphahlele appeared on page 4 of The Star of 26 February 2018
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page