Nasionale minimum loon verhoging | National minimum wage increase
English to follow:
19 Februarie 2020
Agri SA neem kennis van die verhoging van 3,8% aan die nasionale minimum loon wat op 1 Maart 2020 in werking tree. Die verhoging is presies in lyn met die aanbeveling wat deur die Kommissie oor die Nasionale Minimum Loon aan die minister van Arbeid en Indiensneming gemaak is.
Die kommissie het ‘n baie moeilike taak gehad om aan sy mandaat volgens die Nasionale Minimumloonwet te voldoen. Dit sluit in om aanbevelings aan die minister te maak wat beide die land se werkloosheidsyfer in ag sou neem en om ‘n balans te handhaaf wat verseker dat die nasionale minimum loon nie ondermyn word nie. Die gemiddelde VPI vir 2019 was 4,1%.
Dit is ‘n verligting vir die landbousektor dat die 90% vergunning steeds in plek gehou is. Die landbousektor is afhanklik van die vergunning as gevolg van die sektor se kwesbaarheid waarvan die voortslepende droogte die een van die grootste oorsake is.
Groeiende werkloosheid is egter die grootste drywer van armoede. Die impak van die minimumloon in die verband moet deurlopend gemonitor en geëvalueer word. Suid-Afrika kan nie verdere werksverliese bekostig nie. Begrip vir die omstandighede waarin boere hulself bevind, is daarom van deurslaggewende belang. Beskerm liefs werksgeleenthede deur vergunning aan boere te gee wat op die stadium nie die minimumloon kan bekostig nie.
Werkgewers wat nie in staat is om die minimumloon te betaal nie, kan by https://nmw.labour.gov.za/ aansoek om kwytskelding doen.
Navrae
Neil Hamman
Voorsitter: Agri SA Sentrum van Uitnemendheid – Arbeid en Ontwikkeling
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19 February 2020
Agri SA takes note of the increase of 3.8% to the national minimum wage which will come into effect on 1 March 2020. The increase is exactly in line with the recommendation made to the Minister of Employment and Labour by the National Minimum Wage Commission.
The commission had a very difficult task to act per its mandate which is found in the National Minimum Wage Act. This includes making recommendations to the minister that will consider both the country’s unemployment rate as well as maintaining a balance to ensure that the value of the national minimum wage won’t be compromised. The average CPI for 2019 was 4.1%.
It is a relief for the agricultural sector that the 90% special dispensation is still in place. This dispensation will be under discussion in 2020 to establish what will happen to it in 2021. The agricultural sector is dependent on the special dispensation due to the sector’s vulnerability of which the continuing drought is one of the biggest contributors.
However, rising unemployment is the biggest driver of poverty. The impact of the minimum wage in this regard must be continuously monitored and evaluated. South Africa cannot afford further job losses. Understanding the circumstances in which farmers find themselves is therefore crucial. Jobs can be protected by granting relief to farmers who cannot afford the minimum wage at this stage.
Employers who are unable to afford the national minimum wage can apply for exemption at https://nmw.labour.gov.za/.
Queries
Neil Hamman
Chairperson: Agri SA Centre of Excellence – Labour and Development