BusinessLive reports that Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant confirmed on Monday evening that it would not be possible to implement the new national minimum wage legislation on the envisaged date of 1 May because the parliamentary process will not be completed by then.  

The minister updated media on progress on the National Minimum Wage Bill, the Labour Relations Amendment Bill and the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill being considered by Parliament’s portfolio committee on labour.  She said the bills were highly contested and “it has become apparent that the ambition for the National Minimum Wage Bill to become law by May 1 2018 may not be practical given the high volumes of public submissions.”  The bills, the minister said, were now under the authority of Parliament and the executive no longer had any control of these processes.  The department is due to give its response to public submissions on the bill on Wednesday and then the committee will consider the proposals received.  The bill also has to be processed by the National Council of Provinces.  Regulations to the bill would also still have to be prepared and then promulgated.

• Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive
• Read too, No minimum wage deal by Workers' Day, Oliphant tells reporters, at Fin24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page