Ramaphosa concedes R20 is not a living wage
8 February 2017
Cape Town – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said the R20 an hour minimum wage agreement is not a living wage.
Addressing media at Parliament on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said the agreement was a starting point to lift 6.6 million workers who are earning below R3 500 a month out of poverty and inequality.
Ramaphosa and members of the National Economic Development and Labour Council Nedlac - except Cosatu - signed the agreement on Tuesday. Ramaphosa said it was not "his" agreement that he "sucked out of thin air", but follows two years of engagement with three labour federations, business leaders and community organisations.
"This is an historical development in our country,” he said. “Finally we have a national minimum wage: a national minimum wage which no doubt won’t make everyone happy and excited; a national minimum wage which is going to lift the income levels of no less than 6.6 million workers who currently are bellowing R3 500.