BusinessLive reports that labour federation Cosatu has accused business of dragging its heels on the finalisation of arrangements for the implementation of the national minimum wage (NMW). It claims that issues that had already been agreed to were now stalling talks.
Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said the agreement that had been signed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) was being challenged by business partners who were insisting on a four-hour minimum working day, among other contentious clauses. Labour has demanded that workers be paid for a minimum six hours daily, even in cases where productivity is disrupted. The proposed deal that the NMW be set at R20 an hour was agreed to in February and is expected to come into effect in May 2018, but parties in a Nedlac task team set up for its finalisation are concerned about its slow progress. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa would be called on to intervene, Dlamini said. However, the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) is confident the process will be wrapped up in time despite the challenges.
- Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page