South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says they will continue to reject the new minimum wage of R20 an hour because, in 2012, workers gave them the mandate to link the minimum wage to the national minimum living level.
On Friday, Saftu released a statement saying the majority of workers will not be celebrating the law as the R20 rate was “far below what anyone should have to live on; it condemns millions of workers and their families to government-sanctioned poverty”.
But Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) wanted the bills signed without delay to ensure that employers are given the required 30 days to adjust to the new system that kicks in on January 1 2019
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed four labour bills, including the National Minimum Wage Bill.
The minimum wage bill is expected to benefit about 6 million workers who earn less than R3 700 a month.
Employers have to be given 30 days notice before a new wage regime is introduced.
Vavi says the new bill will give false hope to the workers.
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