Johannesburg - Cosatu has condemned the lack of progress in negotiations for a national minimum wage at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali told reporters on Thursday that it was “totally unacceptable” that two years after the ANC had committed to the minimum wage, there had been no significant progress.
“The CEC (central executive committee) endorsed the view of labour at Nedlac, that we need to declare a formal dispute, to break the current deadlock. Going forward we shall be mobilising workers and society in order to embark on a protected mass action in demand of a national minimum wage,” he said.
Ntshalintsahli was briefing journalists in Johannesburg following a three-day CEC meeting of the federation.
Earlier this week, the labour and community constituencies announced the minimum wage talks had deadlocked.
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They have largely blamed business for being responsible for this impasse. The business constituency in Nedlac was initially opposed to a base wage, but is now advocating for it to be as low as the lowest sectoral determination which is around R1 800 a month for domestic workers in rural areas.
Labour wants the minimum wage not to be lower than R4 500.
“To avoid strikes and improve labour relations they need to address the extreme levels of inequality and poverty wages they pay workers. A meaningful national minimum wage will also make a significant contribution to stimulating equitable economic growth and development,” said Ntshalintshali.
LABOUR BUREAU