Johannesburg: Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has underscored the importance of the National Minimum Wage as a vital safeguard for women working in sectors such as domestic work, agriculture, hospitality, and retail. She emphasized the need for its enforcement to remain a priority for the department.
According to South African Government News Agency, Meth stressed the challenges faced by women in the workforce during her address at the Women's Leadership Reception on Monday evening. The event, held at Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park, marked the end of Women's Month and focused on the theme 'Connecting People. Inspiring Leaders. Transforming Generations'. It gathered women leaders and emerging young leaders from various sectors, including government, academia, business, politics, civil society, and the international community.
The Minister highlighted that the national unemployment rate stood at 33.6% in the second quarter, with women and young people bearing the brunt. She pointed out the pressure on households led by women due to the rising cost of living. Meth emphasized that a significant number of economically active women in South Africa are engaged in the informal economy, often lacking access to protections such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation Fund.
Meth noted the necessity of integrating the informal economy into protective and supportive measures. She highlighted the potential of the just energy transition, digitization, and the green economy to create future jobs, stressing the importance of capable, financed women-owned businesses to meet government procurement targets.
The Minister referred to the 26th Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report, which confirmed persistent inequalities in the labor market, particularly at senior and top management levels. Meth pointed out that Black women remain predominantly in lower to middle management levels, and individuals with disabilities constitute only 1.3% of the workforce.
She concluded by stating that South Africa does not lack talented women but faces challenges in converting talent into leadership opportunities. The event aimed to encourage dialogue, collaboration, and mentorship while paving the way for future opportunities.
The National Minimum Wage Commission has recently called for public comments to guide the 2027 wage adjustment. Currently, the National Minimum Wage is set at R30.23 per hour.