Category: News

Forestry-Worker

Minimum Wages for the Farm Workers and Forestry Sectors

From the 1st of March 2018, the minimum wages for Farm Workers and people employed in the Forestry Sector will be increased, this annual increase is valid for twelve (12) months until the 28th of February 2019 in stark contrast to the increases tabled for the Domestic Workers and Contract Cleaning Sectors earlier this year. It stands to be seen how this extended period of validity will play into the proposed Minimum Wage Bill (Read Our Article Here).

Hourly Rate from 1st of March 2018: R 16.25

Read more “Minimum Wages for the Farm Workers and Forestry Sectors” →

Contract-Cleaning

Contract Cleaning Sector Minimum Wages 2018

From the 1st of January 2018, the minimum wages for workers in the Contract Cleaning Sector will be increased, this increase is only valid until the 30th of November 2018, likely in order to allow the Minimum Wage Act to replace the wage table. Additionally it must be noted that Area B will receive two increases, one on the 1st of January and the second on the 28th of February 2018 in order to comply with collective agreements applicable to that region.

Given the current proliferation of trade unions within the Contract Cleaning Sector it is also likely that individual business may be required, by virtue of collective agreements of their clients being extended, to pay higher minimum wages than those listed in the Sectoral Determination 1.

Read more “Contract Cleaning Sector Minimum Wages 2018” →

Court

HR City opposes Labour Legislation Law Amendments

Again HR City has elected to voice our concern over proposed amendments to labour legislation, including the implementation of the proposed Minimum Wage Bill (Read our Article Here).

Similarly to our actions in 2012 when HR City sought to intervene in what it viewed as dangerous and unfair changes to labour legislation (Read our Article Here) government has again sought to further restrict the rights of employers, even during an economic downturn which, in no small part is due to excessive over-regulation of the labour market.  Read more “HR City opposes Labour Legislation Law Amendments” →

CoalStrike

Strike Looming in the Coal Sector

Over the past few months employers and employees in the coal sector have been negotiating wage increases in the Coal Sector. Employees, represented by the NUM, Solidarity, UASA and NUMSA have reached a deadlock with the represented employers, Exxaro Coal, Anglo American Coal, Glencore, Koornfontein, Kangra, Delmas Coal and Msobo Coal which may well result in a strike occurring across the entire sector.

Says Mr Peter Bailey, NUM Chief Negotiator in the Coal Sector in a press statement: “The Chamber of Mines members are pleading poverty when it comes to black workers yet white managers and executives have the luxury of being overcompensated.” Read more “Strike Looming in the Coal Sector” →

Minimum-Wage

National Minimum Wage Legislation gets a nod from Cabinet

Cabinet has approved the draft legislation to implement a National Minimum Wage for South Africa. At present the new proposed National Minimum Wage is set at R 20.00 per hour, which translates to approximately R 3 900.00 per month. For a comparison, the current Minimum Wage for a Domestic Worker is around R 12.42 per hour or R 2 421.90 per month.

While it is unclear what the exemptions would be, working on the assumption that all Sectoral Minimum Wages will have to be increased, this legislation holds the potential to increase unemployment even more. Currently South Africa has an unemployment rate of 27.7% for the third quarter of 2017 and in what is likely to be a repeat of the Farm Workers Minimum Wage which saw a 0.8% increase in unemployment when it was implemented in 2013 over a period which historically shows a decrease in unemployment. Read more “National Minimum Wage Legislation gets a nod from Cabinet” →

HospitalityWorkers

Hospitality Sector Minimum Wages 2017/18

From the 1st of July 2017, the minimum wages for the Hospitality Sector will be increased, are you ready?

The Department of Labour has listed the Hospitality Sector as a sector employing vulnerable workers, meaning that a larger interest is given on regulating their hours of work and minimum wages.

Another important consideration here is that due to the nature of work in this sector, employees are often paid low “Basic” wages with the addition of commission.  Read more “Hospitality Sector Minimum Wages 2017/18” →

DomesticWorker

Domestic Workers Minimum Wages 2016/17

From the 1st of December 2016, the minimum wages for domestic workers will be increased, are you ready?

What is the minimum wage for domestic workers?

Every year we hear about minimum wages and the yearly increase. Do not be in the dark 2015/2016, let us explain it to you!

Who is covered by the Sectoral Determination for Domestic Workers?

  • Housekeepers
  • Gardeners
  • Nannies
  • Domestic Drivers

They all are covered by the Sectoral Determination for Domestic Workers, except in the event that they fall under a bargaining council or another Sectoral Determination.

An example of where an employee will fall under Sectoral Determination is a gardener at the office or a cleaner at the factory. Read more “Domestic Workers Minimum Wages 2016/17” →

ZAParliament

HR City Challenges Labour Law Amendments

HR City attended the parliament portfolio committee on labour relations to debate and argue against the proposed changes to existing labour legislation as well as the introduction of new laws which would make it even harder for employers in South Africa to conduct business.

A lot of these changes will negatively impact on business in South Africa and will severely restrict the ability of smaller businesses to grow while significantly increasing unemployment and contributing to poverty. Read more “HR City Challenges Labour Law Amendments” →