ANA reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the proposed national minimum wage (NMW) of R20 per hour or R3,500 a month, saying it was a victory for workers.
But, speaking at government’s Freedom Day event in Bloemfontein on Friday, he conceded the wage was still not enough to live on. He told the crowd: “Some people have argued that the starting minimum wage of R20 an hour is not a living wage. They are correct. Some argue that the national minimum wage will not end income inequality. They too are correct. But what the national minimum wage does provide is a firm and unassailable foundation – which is agreed to by all social partners – from which to advance the struggle for a living wage. We must remember that the introduction of the national minimum wage will increase the income of over 6 million working South Africans.” On Wednesday, thousands of workers joined in on the general strike organised by the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) against the implementation of the proposed NMW.
- Read this report in full at The Citizen
- Read too, Ramaphosa admits national minimum wage is not a living wage, at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page