Minimum wage elevates unemployment rates, says TLU SA,
TLU SA is still against a minimum wage system in South Africa because it contributes to keeping people outside of work and debilitates the economy.
The Department of Labour this week officially announced the increased minimum wage which will come into effect on 1 March 2020. The increase of 3,8% brings the minimum wage for farmworkers to R18,68 per hour, but is far below the 12,5% unions were holding out for. In contrast, the unemployment rate for the fourth quarter in 2019 stood at 29,1% last week. Around 40% of South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 are unemployed.
“The ANC and its alliance partners do not care about the economy or unemployment in the country, but only act in the interest of their members,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “The limitation of a minimum wage deprives a person who is willing to negotiate for their wage, of a job opportunity.
“If someone is willing to work as a farmworker for R2 500, for example, instead of the forced R3 360 per month because that is what the farmer can afford, you are giving that person the dignity not to be dependent on a grant or begging to survive,” says Mr Meintjes. “When more than one person in a family can work, the combined income of that family is, of course, higher than when only one person in the family can work for a higher rate.
“Contrary to popular belief, farmers do care for their workers and do want them to have better lives. But making it more difficult to employ more workers, is counterproductive.”
The focus on absurd wages impairs the employer who cannot afford it, the employee who cannot be employed and the economy which doesn’t show local growth. A minimum wage system can only be a useful tool for upliftment in a stable economy. With the current South African policies and economy, it only contributes to unemployment and dependency on social grants.
TLU SA is steeds gekant teen die minimumloon-stelsel in Suid-Afrika omdat dit bydra om mense buite die werksomgewing te hou en die ekonomie verswak.
Die verhoogde minimumloon is vandeesweek amptelik aangekondig en tree op 1 Maart 2020 in werking. Die 3,8% verhoging bring die minimumloon vir plaaswerkers op na R18,68 per uur, maar is ver onder die 12,5% waarop vakbonde aangedring het. Dit terwyl die werkloosheidsyfer vir die vierde kwartaal in 2019, verlede week as 29,1% aangedui is. Sowat 40% van Suid-Afrikaners tussen die ouderdomme van 15 tot 34 is werkloos, en ook nie besig met die een of ander vorm van opleiding of tersiêre onderrig nie.
“Die ANC en sy alliansie-vennote het nie ‘n saak met die ekonomie of werkloses in die land nie en tree slegs in belang van hulle lede op,” sê mnr. Louis Meintjes, die president van TLU SA. “Die beperking van ‘n minimumloon ontneem ‘n persoon wat wel bereid is om te onderhandel vir sy loon, van ‘n werksgeleentheid.
“As iemand bereid is om as ‘n plaasarbeider te werk vir ‘n loon van byvoorbeeld R2 500 teenoor die gedwonge R3 360 per maand, omdat dit is wat die boer kan bekostig, gee jy aan daardie persoon die waardigheid om nie van ‘n staatstoelae of bedelary afhanklik te wees vir oorlewing nie,” sê mnr. Meintjes. “Wanneer meer mense in ‘n gesin kan werk, is die gesamentlike inkomste van die gesin dan mos ook hoër, as wanneer net een persoon in die gesin – teen ‘n hoër loon – kan werk.
“Ten spyte van wat opstokers mense wil laat glo, gee boere wel om vir hulle werkers en wil ons graag hê hulle moet beter lewens hê. Maar, om dit moeiliker te maak om meer werkers in diens te neem, is teenproduktief.”
Deur aan te dring op absurde lone word die werkgewer wat dit nie kan bekostig nie, die werker wat nie in diens geneem word nie en die ekonomie wat nie plaaslike groei toon nie, benadeel. ‘n Minimumloon-stelsel kan slegs suksesvol wees om mense op te hef, in ‘n gestabiliseerde ekonomie. In die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse beleidsomgewing en ekonomie, dra dit egter net by tot werkloosheid en ‘n afhanklikheid van staatstoelaes.
