Nearly 2 000 farmers, many from the Western Cape, have applied for exemption from the minimum wage for farm workers.
Labour Minister Mildred Olifant told a press briefing on Thursday, following her department’s budget vote speech, that 1 988 farmers had applied for exemption from the new R105-a-day wage included in the sectoral determination for farmworkers.
Last year farm strikes started in De Doorns as workers protested against the R69-a-day minimum wage.
The strikes spread and turned violent, resulting in the destruction of property and at least two deaths.
Workers demanded R150 a day, but earlier this year the Labour department decided on a new daily minimum wage of R105.
Farmers who said they could not afford to pay the increased wage were given an opportunity to apply for exemption, but were required to provide the relevant proof.
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor
via 1 988 farmers seek wage exemption – Business News | IOL Business | IOL.co.za.
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