National minimum wage finally a reality

Nearly four years after the process was first initiated, South Africa has a national minimum wage that aims to protect low-paid workers.

The national minimum wage has been set at R20/hour, which equates to about R3 500/month depending on the number of hours worked. According to a statement issued by the Presidency, a “phase-in period” had been introduced for farmworkers, forestry workers and domestic workers, as well as welfare and care workers. This dispensation was introduced “due to their vulnerability to disemployment”, the statement said.

The minimum hourly wage for farmworkers, including domestic workers or security guards employed on farms, would be R18/hour, while that for domestic workers elsewhere was set at R15/ hour. People employed by the Expanded Public Works Programme would earn at least R11/hour.

Agri SA’s head of labour and development, Jahni de Villiers, said the commencement date for the national minimum wage was 1 January 2019. However, the association was awaiting the formal proclamation and would ensure that it was circulated to its members.

De Villiers told Farmer’s Weekly the R18/hour minimum wage for farmworkers was not much higher than was anticipated for the new sectoral determination that would have come into effect in March 2019.

De Villiers said the association’s members were required to comply with all relevant legislation and she was aware of many cases where farmers were already providing wages that exceeded minimum requirements.

Her concern was, however, whether the new national minimum wage would put a damper on job creation. She welcomed organised agriculture’s inclusion in a newly established National Minimum Wage Commission, which would review the minimum wage and related dispensations going forward. – Sabrina Dean