The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the Western Cape welcomes the announcement made by the Minister of Employment and Labour on the new adjusted National Minimum Wage, which will come into effect on 01 March 2021. The new rates are based on the recommendations of the National Minimum Wage Commission and they read as follows:

·         The National Minimum Wage will increase by 4,5% to R21, 69 per hour. (R867,60 per week / R3470,40 per month)

·         The National Minimum Wage rate of Farm Workers will increase from 90% to 100%. which equates to R21, 69 per hour. (R867,60 per week / R3470,40 per month)

·         The National Minimum Wage of Domestic Workers will increase from 75% to 88% which equates to R19,09 per hour.

·         The EPWP Workers new rate will be R11,93 per hour.

 The Federation welcomes the recommendation of the commission that domestic workers should get the same and or equalize the National Minimum Wage as from March 2022. We are calling on the NMW Commission to bring the EPWP Workers (Expanded Public Works Programme) on the same level as the others because they are being unfairly discriminated against.

 We have seen media reports that certain farmer organizations are contemplating challenging the implementation of the National Minimum Wage. We are appealing to them to refrain from doing so because this will lead to a collision with the federation. COSATU will not fold its arms while the rights of our members are being trampled on.

 For questions, please call Provincial Secretary  Malvern De Bruyn on – 060 977 9027 or Provincial Chairperson -Motlatsi Tsubane on –    074 482 6180