Question NW2597 to the Minister of Employment and Labour
21 September 2023 - NW2597
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
What steps has his department taken to ensure that (a) domestic and (b) farm workers are paid a minimum wage as most of the specified workers are in remote areas that do not have easy access to the services of his department and most are unable to access the assistance of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration due to various reasons?
Reply:
The Department of Employment and Labour undertakes labour inspections at all workplaces including domestic households and on farms and agricultural establishments. Such labour inspections are undertaken on a pro-active basis as well as re-active basis (based on complaints received).
Advocacy initiatives are undertaken using local newspapers and radio stations (in the local languages) across all Provinces in South Africa where compliance to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is advocated and where awareness is raised about the rights of workers.
Effective stakeholder relations are also fostered where the Department also participates in local and regional structures (District Development Model – DDM) where compliance to the NMW is advocated to various government departments and municipalities stakeholder programmes. Imbizos by traditional leadership are also one forum where the NMW is advocated and awareness raised to communities and workers. Furthermore, the department adopts a joint stakeholder approach to communicate its message to workers and the community.
The Department also have a programme called “Taking Services to the People” where all employment and labour legislation including the NMW are advocated to both urban, semi-rural and rural communities.
The Department has signed a MOU with the South African Domestic Workers Union (SADSAWU) to undertake joint advocacy programmes within the domestic workers-sector. To this end, a number of advocacy sessions have already been held throughout the country.
Further efforts and special focus is on the agricultural sector where the NMW is currently being advocated to farmers / employers.
There are constant ongoing advocacy and stakeholder partnerships being fostered to mainstream the NMW into the consciousness of the South African Labour Market. Strategic Stakeholder Partnerships with universities deemed to be in rural provinces are currently being entered into where Law Students will be utilised to advocate compliance to the NMW in rural areas thus raising awareness of the NMW in rural areas of our country.
In instances whereby there’s no compliance with employment laws (including the NMWA); notices are served to employers. In instances where employers fail to honour these notices; the inspectorate would refer such to the CCMA for prosecution.