South African wholesale and retail workers are now entitled to a minimum wage, according to the sectoral determination for the sectors which has come into effect, the Labour Ministry has noted in a statement.
The determination took effect from Saturday, according to Dr Snuki Sikalala, spokesman for Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana.
The highest wage prescribed is R14,87 per hour (or R669,57 per week or R2,901.51 per month) for shop managers in urban areas down to R3,12 rand per hour (or R1 40,51 per week or R4 26,22 a month) for security guards in rural areas in the former TBVC region.
Other prescribed minimum wages for 2003 in urban areas include R4,03 per hour for a cashier (or R182 per week or R788,69 per month), R4,84 per hour for a sales person (or R218,27 per week or R945,88 per month), R3,08 per hour for a general assistant (or R138,73 per week or R601,20 per month), while an assistant manager must receive at least R6,95 per hour (or R313,13 per week or R1 356,96 per month). Wage levels will differ for intermediate and rural areas and for these positions’ counterparts in the former-TBVC areas.
Wages are set for a three-year period, with 8,8% increases per annum for the second and third years. In the TBVC areas — former homeland areas — the
wages will also be further adjusted on an annual basis to bring them in line with the rest of South Africa by the 2005 date. – I-Net Bridge