03/10/2025
Publication: CWAO
Author: Jon Appolis
Read the joint submission on next year's National Minimum Wage by The Campaign to Scrap the Labour Law Amendment Bills
A coalition of 42 organisations are opposing the downgrading of the labour laws.
The Campaign has sent this strong submission to the National Minimum Wage Commission who are the people that decide on the hourly minimum wage every year. (They are currently busy with the 2026 wage review).
We argue that the current national minimum wage (R28.79 per hour) is far too low and keeps workers — especially Black, seasonal, and farm workers — trapped in poverty. Instead of improving lives, the minimum wage has made things worse by allowing employers to push wages down even further. Many workers don’t get enough hours to earn a full monthly wage, and women working on farms are often only employed for short periods, leaving them unable to buy enough food or cover basic needs like electricity or school costs.
Our submission also highlights how hard it is for workers to get help when their rights are violated — labour inspectors don’t do enough, and most workers can’t access the CCMA or the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The Campaign is calling for a real living wage of R12,000 per month, stronger rules to stop unfair short-term contracts, better support for seasonal and part-time workers, proper enforcement of wage laws, and more involvement of workers in decisions. We demand that the National Minimum Wage Commission - which does not have a single worker sitting on it - stop sitting in fancy hotels and deciding this wage every year. They must more transparent and to hold public hearings so workers can share their experiences directly.