Pretoria - The Department of Labour has started a public hearing process on minimum wages for taxi drivers.
The process seeks to solicit the views of industry stakeholders across the country and will culminate with Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant setting new wages for the sector.
The first public hearing took place in KwaMhlanga,outside Pretoria, on Monday.
Mogodi Masenya, the department’s employment standard official told those attending that they should take the opportunity to make inputs either verbally or in writing for consideration by the Employment Condition Commission (ECC). This is the body that advises the minister on wages and other conditions of employment.
Current minimum wages for the taxi sector stands at R2449 per month for drivers and R1969 per month for rank marshals.
Masenya said the process will include research done by the University of Pretoria on the economic status of the industry.
“That research will establish whether it is feasible for the industry to pay those wages,” he said.
The department will be in Witbank tomorrow for a session on the hospitality sector before travelling to Nelspruit and Lydenburg on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za
