Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Committee of Principals of the National Economic Development Council (Nedlac), appointed a seven-person panel to advise on an appropriate level at which the national minimum wage could be set.
The Nedlac Committee of Principals comprises representatives of Government, Labour, Business and Community charged with, among others, determining the national minimum wage.
In his State of the Nation Address on 17 June 2014, President Jacob Zuma called on Nedlac social partners under the leadership of Deputy President Ramaphosa to address low wages, wage inequalities and national minimum wage, violent and protracted strikes.
Deputy President Ramaphosa has now in consultation with Nedlac social partners appointed the following persons to a Panel of Advisors to assist Nedlac in setting the level of the national minimum wage, taking into account work done thus far by Nedlac technical task-teams:
1. Prof Imraan Valodia (Chairperson): part-time member of the Competition Tribunal and a Commissioner on the Employment Conditions Commission;
2. Ms. Mamokete Lijane, Aluwani Capital Partnersmacro strategist responsible for macro-economic and fixed income strategy and asset allocation;
3. Dr. Debbie Collier, associate professor in the Department of Commercial Law at the University of Cape Town;
4. Prof. Murray Leibbrandt, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Poverty and Inequality, University of Cape Town;
5. Mr. Ayabonga Cawe, Economic Justice Manager, OXFAM South Africa
6. Dr. Siphokazi Koyana, Skills Development and Training Expert with local and international experience
7. Dr. Patrick Belser (international expert), senior economist at the International Labour Organisation.
The appointment of the advisors takes place against the background of consensus among Nedlac social partners to introduce a national minimum wage as part of efforts to restore the dignity of the majority of South Africans; address the triple challenges of poverty, under-development and inequality, and reduce pay differentials while maximising job creation.
Deputy President Ramaphosa has extended his gratitude to the panel members for availing themselves to perform this important national task and wished them well in this endeavour.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
