BusinessLive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and companies in the motor industry signed a multi-term above-inflation wage deal at the weekend.

On Sunday, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola confirmed a deal had been reached for increases of up to 6% in the first year, 5% in the second year and 5% in the final year of the agreement. The wage deal is set to benefit more than 300,000 workers falling under the Motor Industries Bargaining Council (MIBCO). The employers at MIBCO are represented by the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA).

The motor sector comprises employees in component manufacturing companies, fuel stations, car dealerships, tyre shops, aftermarket sales, glass-fitment centres, car cleaning, car parts assembly and panel-beating workshops. It employs about 306,000 workers nationally, of whom about 90,000 are Numsa members. According to the agreement, forecourt attendants will receive increases of 6%, 5% and 4% over the three-year period, while cashiers will receive pay hikes of 6%, 4% and another 4%. The union also secured primary healthcare benefits for the first time for garage workers in the sector.

Numsa now wants employment and labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth to ensure “the agreement is speedily gazetted so that it can be extended to non-parties.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive

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