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S. Africa's ANC welcomes proposed minimum wage

Xinhua, November 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Sunday welcomed the proposed minimum wage.

Earlier on Sunday, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) proposed a national minimum wage of 3,500 rand (about 245 U.S. dollars) per month.

"We believe this goes a long way to giving effect to the electoral mandate to the ANC government to introduce a National Minimum Wage," the party said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

The ANC said the proposed wage was part of a package of measures to reduce prolonged and violent strikes.

These are all important interventions meant to stabilize the economy and help create jobs as envisaged in the 9-Point Plan, a blueprint for economic growth in the country, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

The proposed wage is expected to address inequality and boost economic growth, according to experts.

"It is quite striking that something around 47 percent of South Africans who do have work earn a wage below R3,500. We think as well from this evidence, policy can take us some way towards addressing the issues of inequality in South Africa," said Imraan Valodia, Wits University Professor and Chair of the Advisory Panel. Endit