ANCYL rejects the current proposed National Minimum Wage

22 November 2016

The African National Congress Youth League has noted the proposed national minimum wage. The proposal comes from NEDLAC which consist of government, employers and employees. The ANCYL will like to appreciate first and foremost that there is move and consensus on the principle of a minimum wage across the country and among stakeholders. 

The ANCYL is however not happy with the current proposal. The ANCYL holds a strong view that the minimum wage ought to be R 5000. 00 and above. We say this fully aware that this will mean immense alterations from employers who some of them are part of the working class. The ANCYL wishes to urge all stakeholders to reconsider the current proposal and make it better. 

As the ANCYL we wish to advise stakeholders to first conduct a study of living conditions and expenses of the least paid workers rather then looking at what employers say can pay workers. The most affected here are general workers, domestic workers, security guards and cleaners. These sectors are highly populated by the youth who some of them are parents, heads of household and look after many dependants. 

 We call on NEDLAC to ensure that no employer will seek to use section 189 of Act No. 66 of 1995 as Amended, which in essence is retrenchment. This is what employers do every time they want to turn out people against government and most importantly unions who work tirelessly to improve the lives of workers. 

Issued by Mlondi Mkhize, National Spokesperson, ANCYL, 22 November 2016