Welfare Sector wage public hearings underway in Eastern Cape

7 October 2008

The Department of Labour in its mandate to protect vulnerable workers is currently conducting public hearings on the welfare sector in the three Eastern Cape areas of Mthatha, East London and Port Elizabeth since the beginning of the week until tomorrow (Wed).

The public hearings seek to establish and determine workplace conditions and minimum wages in this sector in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).

Participants at the hearings, mostly from non-governmental organizations have so far cited lack of funding in the sector as the main impediment to their complying with regulated minimum wages. The payment of stipends to volunteers, as well as conditions involving contract employment has also proved contentious.