Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: SOWETAN
Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: SOWETAN

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DEPUTY President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament on Wednesday that negotiations involving government, business and labour on a minimum wage were proceeding well and the parties had agreed on its definition.

"The national minimum wage will be a legal floor guaranteed by law, below which no South African can be paid. No sectoral determination can make provision for a wage that is lower," he said.

Matters that were still under discussion related to the national minimum wage included: its scope and application; its relationship to other forms of wage-setting; the mechanism for enforcement; and the actual level of the wage.

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) wants a R7‚000 monthly minimum. Most farm and domestic workers are proposing a national minimum wage of between R5‚000 and R5‚500. Mine workers want wages of between R7‚500 and R12‚500.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said in June that the target for wrapping up the process was six months — but that it might take longer, given the complexity.

Labour is not united in its call for a national minimum wage. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) made a submission to the National Economic Development and Labour Council process through its federation, the National Council of Trade Unions, voicing its disagreement. Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said the push for a national minimum wage was a "knee-jerk" response to address the wage gap, whereas labour should be fighting for a "living wage" for its members. Amcu objected to the process being led by Mr Ramaphosa due to his past involvement in the mining sector.