Good news for some of the country’s lowest paid workers – the Department of Labour and Employment is looking at possibly implementing adjustments to the national minimum wage.
The National Minimum Wage Commission has invited written representations from interested parties in preparations for the adjustments, which will likely kick in during the first quarter of 2023 if approved.
The current national minimum wage announced by Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi in February was adjusted from R21,69 (year: 2021) to R23,19 (2022) for each ordinary hour worked with effect from 01 March 2022.
In its current form, the lowest paid full-time employees, including domestic workers, should earn at least around R3,700 per month.
In a statement, the department said the commission would publish its annual report and recommendations concerning possible adjustments later in 2022, in accordance with section 6(2) of the National Minimum Wage Act, 9 of 2018.
But, before this takes place, the Commission invited input from affected stakeholders in the form of written submissions.
Department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said these recommendations would then be considered by the commission before it publishes its annual report and recommendations on the annual review of the national minimum wage later in the year.
“These written representations will then be forwarded to the minister, together with the commission's report – to use in the determination of the new adjustments,” said Thejane.
