ANA reports that the National Minimum Wage Bill was approved by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday and will now go to President Cyril Ramaphosa to be signed into law.  

The adoption of the bill, along with the enabling Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill, was welcomed by labour federation Cosatu as a step that would see the incomes of 6.4 million South Africans increase.  "This will be a major cash injection into workers’ pockets," Cosatu said and went on to thank Ramaphosa for his "unflinching support" for the measure that will introduce a minimum wage of R20 an hour.  The legislation also provides for the establishment of a National Minimum Wage Commission, which will review the national minimum wage level within a year and a half of it taking effect.  Employers who fail to comply with the wage will be fined unless they applied for and qualified for exemptions.

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