Labour

National Minimum Wage online system for employers to launch in May

Department of Labour will launch a new online system for employers to apply for exemption on the National Minimum Wage in May.

On Monday, 19 March, the Department of Labour announced it is finalising an online system designed for employers or employers’ organisations, which will allow them to apply for an exemption from paying the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The system is set for implementation on 1 May 2018.

Mathilda Bergmann from the Department of Labour’s Employment Standards said the new system would require the employers’ financial information, household income, commercial balance sheet, working hours and motivation. After a thorough audit of the company, the department will determine the granting or rejection of an exemption.

According to Bergmann, the department has drafted Regulations to this effect and the bill is currently in Parliament. It was been published for the public to make representation by 16 March 2018.

In the statement, the Department of Labour specifies that “employers will have to pay their staff a minimum wage of R20 an hour with the exception of sectors such as the farm/forestry, domestic and expanded public works programme workers, that have been given a longer transition period to pay R18, R15 and R11 per hour respectively.”

The Department commenced the national series of roadshows with employers in Braamfontein, Orion Hotel Johannesburg on Monday, 19 March.

Another roadshow will be held on Tuesday, 20 March in Pretoria, at Southern Sun Pretoria, located at the corner Pretorius and Steve Biko Streets in Arcadia.

The next briefing sessions will be held from 10 AM to 1 PM on each day, and are scheduled as follows:

Cape Town (22 March), George (23 March), Durban (27 March), Richards Bay (28 March), Lichtenburg (03 April), Springbok (05 April), Upington (06 April), East London (09 April), Port Elizabeth (10 April), Nelspruit (12 April), Piet Retief (13 April), Tzaneen (16 April), Polokwane (17 April), Bloemfontein (19 April) and Bethlehem on (20 April).