The presidency issued a statement on Monday night, confirming a new National Minimum Wage.

This is good news for anyone in a low-earning job, where wages can often be unequal and in some cases borderline unliveable.

It’s also good news for anyone trying to navigate the gig economy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially signed into law the National Minimum Wage Bill, confirming a wage rate of R20 per hour, or R3 500 monthly, depending on the number of hours worked.

Here’s Fin24:

In its statement the presidency called the signing of the bill an “historic precedent” as it protects low-earning workers and would provide a platform to reduce inequality in society and will decrease “huge disparities” in income in the national labour market.

“The National Minimum Wage Act will come into force on a date to be determined by the president by proclamation.

“The act sets a floor of R20 per hour for the majority of the country’s workers, which will raise the earnings of an estimated six million South Africans – more than half of the labour force – who earn below this level at present,” the statement read.

Take a moment to think about what it must be like to work long days, earning less than R20 an hour, and you can see why this is a step in the right direction.

The National Minimum Wage will be phased in for farm workers, forestry workers, domestic workers, the welfare sector and care workers, as they are vulnerable to disemployment.

“The president has also underscored that while national minimum wage will not end income inequality, it provides a firm and unassailable foundation – which is agreed to by all social partners – from which to advance the struggle for a living wage,” the presidency concluded.

A president who makes a realistic assessment about what can be expected from a bill this close to an election year?

Rare.

[source:fin24]