South African Press Association

South Africa: New Minimum Farm Wage Set

4 February 2013
Photo: Sapa
Farmworkers march in Paarl, 4 December 2012

Cape Town — The new minimum wage for farmworkers is R105 a day, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant announced on Monday.

The new rate, R36 more than the current minimum wage of R69 a day, would take effect from March 1.

"The new minimum wage... is R105 per day for employees who work nine hours a day, or R11.66 per hour, R525 weekly, or R2274.82 per month," Oliphant told reporters in Pretoria.

This new sectoral determination would be promulgated for a three-year period, "and... during year two and three, wages will be increased by CPI... plus 1.5 percent."

The labour minister's announcement followed countrywide public hearings on a new minimum wage for the agriculture sector, prompted by violent protests across parts of the Western Cape.

Farm workers in the region have demanded a R150 a day minimum wage.

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  • Grimreaper
    Feb 5 2013, 09:14
    Report Abuse

    Oh dear. It would be better and less painful to pay the farm workers R1000.00 per day. It just brings the imminent crash to a stop much quicker. Maybe add an iron charriot onto that to. Eish just too cool man. Check my shades i use walking at night.

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