The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour, Ms Lumka Yengeni, has pleaded with stakeholders to be patient, and engage constructively on the issue of the national minimum wage.
Ms Yengeni said it was still too early to be fighting about the issue. “Listening to discussions will help the Committee arrive at an informed position, and will put members in a better position when making such an important decision that will affect the lives of the most vulnerable and weakest in society,” Ms Yengeni said.
The Black Management Forum (BMF) and the Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) briefed the Committee on national minimum wage. BMF supports the idea of a minimum wage. BMF said the national minimum wage was not just a labour issue, but an economic instrument to address SA’s historical injustices. Employers will be allowed to brief the Committee, thereafter, labour will be invited to follow suit.
Ms Yengeni pleaded with members not to use the meeting as a bashing platform. “Everybody will be given space to make an input on the matter, but everyone should be constructive,” Ms Yengeni said. BUSA said it had not formulated a position on the matter as the invitation was not clear enough on the kind of input required, and the timeframes. The Committee and labour representatives that attended the briefing voiced dissatisfaction with this kind of preparedness, and said the debate on the national minimum wage had been ongoing for a while.
“BUSA’s position is disappointing and borders on disrespect for the Committee and Parliament,” Ms Yengeni said. She called on BUSA to come back with a well-researched position that will ensure that the poor will benefit and enjoy a better life.
The national minimum wage discussions with stakeholders are continuing.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
Email: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
