South African parliament approves national minimum wage bill

SOUTH Africa’s parliament on Tuesday passed a national minimum wage bill by an overwhelming majority, a policy championed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as an important step to tackle labour instability and wage inequality.

The measure, opposed by the official Democratic Alliance opposition party, will see millions of workers earn 3,500 rands ($277) a month, and had been initially meant to be introduced earlier in May as part of efforts to boost the economy.

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The bill will be sent to parliament’s upper house for ratification and becomes law once it is signed by Ramaphosa.