Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa
Cape Town – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said all social partners at Nedlac, except Cosatu, signed the national minimum wage agreement on Tuesday night.
The national minimum wage agreement is capped at R20 an hour with a total of R3 500 or R4 900 paid to workers who worked a week 40 or 45 hours respectively.
The agreement was meant to be signed at Pre-State of the Nation Address investor luncheon on Tuesday, but it was postponed until further notice because Cosatu needed more time to consider the proposal.
Addressing a media briefing in Parliament, Ramaphosa said Cosatu was not present to sign the agreement.
"They have asked to be given time to complete their internal process of consultation. Its more on reporting," he said.
Ramaphosa also said the labour federation was still part and parcel of the minimum wage agreement.
However, the deputy president said what had been agreed on was not a living wage.
"This forms a firm foundation to move our country towards a living wage. This is just a start," he said.
Ramaphossa also said the national minimum wage would significantly improve the lives of more millions of workers in the country.
"Truth be told is that we are a country where 6.6 million workers earn below R3 500," he said.