Hilary Joffe writes that events of the coming week will be crucial as labour, business and government hold last-minute talks to secure labour stability, including a national minimum wage.  

SA could drastically decrease the risk of a sovereign debt downgrade to junk status if last-minute behind-the-scenes talks on a package of labour stability measures come to fruition.  A key meeting, chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, is scheduled for Sunday during which sources close to the talks hope agreements can be signed off on measures such as strike balloting and a national minimum wage.  This comes as two of the three major ratings agencies are poised to update their ratings.  Progress on labour relations stability is one of the factors they are understood to be watching closely.

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