BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the national minimum wage (NMW) will come into effect from 1 January 2019.  

It is expected to improve the wages of more than six-million workers currently earning below R20 an hour.  The president made the announcement at a proclamation ceremony held on Friday in Kliptown, Johannesburg.  Ramaphosa told attendees at the ceremony that the wage regime was a result of a lengthy and difficult process of formulating the legislation that involved “disagreements” and “strike threats”.  He also repeated sentiments that the R20 an hour rate was not the ideal living wage anticipated as “there was a need to create a balance” taking into consideration the employment levels in the country.  Zingiswa Losi, president of labour federation Cosatu, pleaded with employers to implement the NMW for those qualifying workers earning below the R20 an hour base line, while Business Unity SA (Busa) CEO Tanya Cohen said the system would stand the country in good stead with ratings agencies.

• Read Theto Mahlakoana’s original report in this regard in full at BusinessLive

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