Campaign: National Minimum Wage

National Minimum Wage

national minimum wage in south africa

Trade unions have been using the national minimum wage as a weapon to fight against low pay globally. The LRS has a history of participating in the minimum wage debate. In 1991, we published our first economic policy paper advocating for a national minimum wage to fight low pay in South Africa. We advocated for a national minimum wage policy as a legislative drive to protect vulnerable workers while pointing to the significant income gaps in the job market and great inequality.

On January 1st, 2019, the National Minimum Wage Act came into effect in South Africa. Trenton Elsely, the LRS Executive Director, was appointed Commissioner of the National Minimum Wage Commission, representing the interests of organized labour. Although the national minimum wage is lower than a living wage, it is a positive development that raises the minimum wage for many in South Africa’s ultra-low wage economy.

Key contact: Trenton Elsely | [email protected]

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