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.
- Debunking some big and small myths about the national minimum wage
- Government gazette – NMW amendment in 2024
- Government gazette – NMW amendment in 2023
- National minimum wage equalisation for domestic workers in 2022
- Government gazette – NMW amendment in 2022
- National Minimum Wage Commission proposal for 2022 adjustment
- Questions and answers about the NMW review – an interview with Trenton Elsely, Commissioner, National Minimum Wage Commission
- National Minimum Wage Act
- National Minimum Wage Act | Annual Review and Adjustment of the National Minimum Wage for 2021
- National Minimum Wage Commission Progress Report, by Trenton Elsley (Member, NMW Commission) | February 2020
- A report on proceedings of the NMW Commission, by Trenton Elsley (Member, NMW Commission) | September 2019
- The National Minimum Wage: The post Implementation Conversation, by Prof Adriaan Van der Walt, (Chairperson, NMW Commission) | September 2019
- Enforcement of the National Minimum Wage in South Africa
- Towards a national minimum wage in South Africa
- The National Minimum Wage: How to fight for low pay in South Africa
- South Africa and the introduction of a National Minimum Wage | LRS Bargaining Indicators 2017
- Gender Pay Gap: How can a national minimum wage contribute to narrowing the gender pay gap and moving us closer to gender equality? | Bargaining Indicators 2015
- SAfm debate on a national minimum wage for South Africa features Trenton Elsely.