THE South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has welcomed the increase in the national minimum wage (NMW) but remains critical of it.
This comes after the Department of Employment and Labour announced on Friday, 2 February, that the minimum wage will increase to R27,58 per hour in March 2024, up from R25,42 in 2023.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi said the new minimum wage will come into effect from 1 March 2024.
“The national minimum wage determination also includes the vulnerable sectors of farm workers and the domestic workers – whom since 2022 were aligned with the NMW rates.
“However, the workers employed on an expanded public works programme are entitled to a minimum wage of R15,16 per hour (up) from R13,97. Workers who have concluded learnership agreements contemplated in section 17 of the Skills Development Act, 1998, are entitled to the allowances as determined in the latest government schedule,” the department said.
The union said although this represents an above-inflation increase, it remains an increment to a meager wage, making it unlikely to bring about a significant difference.
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Saftu has previously expressed support for a national minimum wage but insisted that it must be set at a level that affords workers and their families a decent life.
The union's general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi said the current minimum wage falls short of providing workers and their families with a decent standard of living.
“Based on an assumption of a worker who works eight hours per day and 21 days per month, this hourly rate translates into a monthly wage of R4 633,44. However, this amount is insufficient for workers and households to afford basic monthly necessities.”
The latest Household Affordability Index by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group indicates that the average household food basket costs R5 324,86 per month.
Vavi said consequently, the current minimum wage is inadequate to cover even a basic household food basket, not to mention hygienic products, rent, municipal services, and transportation to work and school.
“These are fundamental necessities that sustain a worker and enable them to offer their labour power daily,” he said.
He further said in their criticism of the introduction of the minimum wage in 2018, they highlighted that workers needed enough money to afford all the basic goods and services.
“Our longstanding demand is the establishment of R72 per hour as a minimum living wage,” he said.
