GOVERNMENT increased minimum wage for farmworkers will simply lead to consumers having to pay more for food, farmers’ union TLU SA has warned.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi announced in the Government Gazette this week that the national minimum wage for farmworkers will increase by 16% to R21,69 per hour, starting on March 1.
According to TLU SA president Henry Geldenhuys, the ability of farmers to absorb this level of compensation is almost impossible. “We shudder to think what the consequences will be in terms of unemployment in SA as soon as the adjusted minimum wage kicks in,” Geldenhuys said this week.
