Johannesburg - The Department of Public Works says the prescribed minimum wage of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) will be increased from R75.10 to R78.86 per day or performed task as of Sunday.
The EPWP wage increase is determined by ministerial determination and adjusted annually and accordingly and in line with the current inflation rate.
Acting EPWP Deputy Director General Kelebogile Sethibelo urged all the implementers of the EPWP to timeously adjust the programme participants’ wages accordingly and to comply with the requirements.
She said the EPWP mandate to alleviate poverty and unemployment remains steady in addressing the challenges of unemployment, inequality and unemployment within communities.
“We also take the commitment to provide a safety net to millions of the poor and unemployed South Africans who depend solely on Public Employment Programmes for survival. The EPWP remains one of the successful government initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment through the provision of training and work opportunities.
“Through various skills and training that the participants receive from EPWP, they stand a better chance to manoeuvre into businesses or enter the formal employment sector,” said Sethibelo.
The objectives of phase 3 of the EPWP is to provide work opportunities and income support to poor and unemployed people through the labour-intensive delivery of public and community assets and services, thereby contributing to development.
Phase 3 is aimed at creating six million work opportunities over a five year period, between 2014/15 to 2018/19. - SAnews.gov.za
