Minimum Wage Bill to be signed ‘soon’

The signing into law of the national Minimum Wage Bill – passed by the National Council of Provinces in August 2018 – is ‘imminent’, according to Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko. A Business Day report notes organised labour has been frustrated by delays encountered since the agreement to introduce the R20-per-hour minimum wage rate was signed in February 2017. Cosatu warned that the minimum wage rate was depreciating in value while President Cyril Ramaphosa delayed signing it into law. The Bill is part of a package that includes amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and Labour Relations Act. Diko told Business Day the three labour Bills sent to Ramaphosa on 20 August would be signed soon. Diko added that the delay was caused by the President’s insistence that their legal counsel should study ‘all processes undertaken’ before the Bills are sent to his office from Parliament. Ramaphosa’s cautious approach could be due to concerns raised by academics and researchers about some of the provisions in the Minimum Wage Bill following the drafting process by the Department of Labour.