The Citizen reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) says it is ‘disgusted’ by the passing of three labour bills in the National Assembly on Tuesday, ‘but not surprised’.
Saftu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the passing of the bills “proves just how low the ANC has sunk, from a proud liberation movement to a political party that is willing to condemn millions of people to poverty in order to satisfy their friends in business”. The National Minimum Wage Bill, which will set minimum wages at R3,500 a month or R20 an hour, was passed with 202 votes from mostly ANC benches. The other two bills, the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill and Labour Relations Amendment Bill also passed with the same number of votes. All three bills have been severely criticised by opposition parties, as well as Saftu, which led countrywide protests against the bills last month. Craven said: “We will now go back to the street and we will keep on fighting and draw even bigger numbers than in April, to do so (ensure the bills don’t become law).
- Read this report by Earl Coetzee in full at The Citizen
- Read too, Bills setting minimum wage passed in Parliament, at Engineering News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page