Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to brief the National Assembly on Wednesday, 2 November 2016 on progress made by National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) constituencies to introduce the National Minimum Wage while reducing violent and protracted strikes.

The NEDLAC constituencies comprising labour, business, communities and government were tasked by President Jacob Zuma during the 2014 State of the Nation Address to address issues of low wages, wage inequalities, labour market stability, violent and protracted strikes and the issue of the National Minimum Wage.

Deputy President Ramaphosa’s briefing to the National Assembly comes against the background of the recent NEDLAC Committee of Principals’ (COP) meeting held in Johannesburg to review progress reports on labour relations and efforts to introduce the National Minimum Wage.

Deputy President Ramaphosa said substantial progress is being made by the NEDLAC constituencies in negotiations on labour relations with specific reference to labour market stability with the Panel on National Minimum Wage scheduled to table its report to the Committee by the end of November 2016.

During the meeting of the NEDLAC Committee of Principals the social partners reiterated their conviction that inclusive negotiations remains the best way to solve current challenges facing the country.

The Deputy President will utilise the opportunity of the question and answer session with Members of the National Assembly to outline the government’s attitude towards the current electoral system.

Equally Deputy President Ramaphosa will seek to brief the Assembly on government’s programme to address the current challenges facing higher education and implications for social cohesion.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will also brief members of the National Assembly on efforts to stabilize and create a lasting peace in the South Sudan. This will include reference to efforts aimed at the full implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement as well as initiatives aimed at the reunification of the various factions of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) as a necessary step to bring about an end to the conflict in the country.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria