Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi undertook to respond to Steve Harris, General Secretary of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) as to when the threshold of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) will be adjusted.
Harris reminded the Minister during a briefing with Trade Union leaders of the Federation of Trade Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) that he had not yet responded to UNTU’s repeated letters about the threshold.
According to Minister Nxesi, he had to double check on the progress that has been made to date by the National Minimum Wage Commission before he responds.
UNTU has been putting pressure on Government to adjust the threshold that has been stagnant on R205 433.30 per year since 1 July 2014. It amounts to R17 119 per month.
“By not increasing the threshold for five years, Government allows employers to abuse vulnerable employees who is not being protected by the act when it comes to overtime work,” says Harris.
According to Nxesi the Covid-19 pandemic already resulted in more than two million job losses in South Africa. He predicts that another two million workers will lose their jobs.
UNTU Greetings.
S Carstens
Obo SA Harris
General Secretary
