52. Mr S C Motau (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:
Question (a) What assurances does she have that the recent sectoral
determination agreed to for farm labourer wages will not collapse
before the end of its three-year term.
The Minister of Labour replied:
a)Honourable Member, if you refer to the review of the sectoral
determination before three years, according to the BCEA, the Minister
may not publish a sectoral determination regulating any matter
regulated by a sectoral determination for a sector and area which has
been in effect for less than 12 months. This therefore mean that at
any point in time after the sectoral determination has been in place
for more than 12 months, the Minister may amend or change the sectoral
determination by following the procedures spelt out in the law.
b). What factors were taken into account in adjusting the daily wage
to R105
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act requires that the following
issues amongst others be considered when determining the level of the
minimum wage:
⢠The ability of employers to carry on their business
successfully;
⢠Conditions of employment ;
⢠Alleviation of poverty;
⢠The cost of living; and
⢠Wage differentials and inequality
Furthermore, inputs received during the public hearings and also very
critical, the report by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy
(BFAP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
c): what measures have been put in place to mitigate against potential
job losses in the sector?
In my statement on the 4 February 2013 when announcing the new minimum
wage, I have indicated to farmers that those who cannot afford to pay
the new minimum wage can apply for exemption. The exemption will allow
farmers to pay wages which they can afford until their economic
situation has improved and thereby avoid retrenchments.
END