Minimum wage 'shows the power of a united workforce'
Trade union federation Cosatu has lauded the national minimum wage as a victory during a difficult time for the South African economy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Friday that the new national minimum wage of R20 per hour will become effective on January 1.
Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi said the amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, signed alongside the minimum wage proclamation, will benefit parents and women in particular.
"They will also see parents legally adopting children two years an younger entitled to ten weeks paid adoption leave. Maternity, adoption and parental leave credits will be separated from UIF credits in response to a long-standing demand from Cosatu and workers to avoid penalising women for giving birth.
"The acts will see the UIF payments to workers who have lost their jobs increase from eight to twelve months' payments. Workers who pass away will see their remaining due UIF, maternity and parental leave benefits paid to their beneficiaries. These progressive pro-worker acts will put more money into workers' pockets."
Losi says these amendments are critical at a time when workers are battling to make ends meet.
"Workers are battling VAT, tax, fuel and other tariff and price hikes and rising levels of unemployment and retrenchments. These historic achievements show the power of workers when they are united. We are proud of the united front Cosatu, Fedusa and Nactu showed for the national minimum wage and to defend workers' hard-won rights during the intense two-year long Nedlac negotiations.
"These engagements show the value of social dialogue and its leading venue, Nedlac."