Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, after almost two (2) months failed 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.
The Minister undertook to respond to Harris on the 2nd December 2020, during a briefing with Trade Union leaders of the Federation of Trade Unions of South Africa (Fedusa).
Harris reminded the Minister that he had not yet responded to UNTU’s repeated letters about the stagnant threshold which has an extremely negative impact on all UNTU members who are required to work overtime.
According to the Minister, 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 the 1st July 2014. It amounts to R17 119 per month.
“By not increasing the threshold for five (5) years, Government allows employers to abuse vulnerable employees who are not being protected by the act when it comes to overtime work,” says Harris.
Harris reminded the Minister this week that UNTU is still awaiting his response in a letter.
UNTU will keep its members abreast of any developments.
