‘Keep an eye on wages’

MPs urge workers to report employers who pay less than the minimum R3 500 a month

MEMBERS of Parliament have called on workers to report employers who fail to implement the National Minimum Wage Act and pay them wages in line with the law.

Members of the portfolio committee on labour yesterday said they wanted all employers to stick to the law and pay their workers accordingly.

The committee, which was meeting to consider technical amendments to the act, said those companies that could not afford to pay the minimum wage must follow the process and apply for exemptions.

Chairperson of the committee Lemias Mashile said workers must be vigilant and “keep an eye open” to see that they were paid the minimum wage of R3500 a month.

The law came into effect in this month after it was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa late last year.

Mashile said all companies must stick to the law and start paying the minimum wage.

He called on the Department of Labour and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to monitor the implementation of the law and that companies were complying with it.

“We call on the workers not paid the minimum wage to report this to their unions and the CCMA,” said Mashile. “As Parliament, we call for compliance. We don’t have time for the courts. We will keep an eye as a committee. We plead with the department and their inspectors to assist and show us which employers are not patriotic.”

Michael Bagraim of the DA and Willie Madisha of Cope also called for the full implementation of the law.

Madisha, a former trade unionist, said the law had to be implemented fully.

“We agree this has to be implemented as a matter of urgency for the workers to benefit,” he said.

Mashile said workers must “stand on guard” and report employers who failed to adhere to the law.

“We call upon the workers to wake up and ensure employers comply. The CCMA must stand on its feet and ensure there is compliance. We expect vulnerable workers to have improved wages,” said Mashile.

He said the Department of Labour and the unions must also report employers who failed to implement the national minimum wage.

Mashile said they did not expect any employer to disregard the law as it came into effect this month.

They expected all workers earning below the minimum wage to be paid in line with the legislated minimum wage.