New national minimum wage to be implemented in March

By Lungile Ntimba

The new National Minimum Wage will be R28.79 per hour, which is 4.4% increase, according to Employment and Labour Department Minister Nomakhosazana Meth.

It kicks in on 1 March, and covers all workers, including vulnerable groups like farm workers and domestic workers.

The department explained that this was the new baseline across all sectors, but did point out a handful of exceptions.

Workers employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme were only entitled to a minimum wage increase of R15,83 per hour. 

Additionally, it does not apply to members of the SA National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency and the SA Secret Service. 

The amount also excludes the payment of allowances such as transport, tools, food, accommodation, board, tips, bonuses and gifts among others.

Ddepartment spokesperson Teboho Thejane, emphasised that the updated minimum wage was the minimum an employer could legally pay its employees, and no