South Africa's Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant, presented the amended National Minimum Wage Bill before the National Assembly yesterday. It was passed by an overwhelming majority. 

Malakoane says it is a step in the right direction.

The Bill provides for workers to be paid no less than R20.00 an hour while agricultural workers are set to earn R18.00 an hour for the first year and R15.00 will be stipulated for domestic workers. 

The Bill will be sent to Parliament’s upper house for ratification and becomes law once President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed it.

Two other amended labour bills, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill, which proposed amendments as a consequence of the National Minimum Wage Bill and enhances the powers of the CCMA, as well as the Labour Relations Amendment Bill, were also adopted without amendment. 

The Labour Relations Amendment Bill will give effect to a code of good practice for strengthening collective bargaining, preventing violent strikes. It also provides for secret strike ballots. 

The three bills will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.

OFM News