Taxi, hospitality sector reviewed

Independent Newspapers

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant File image: Leon Nicholas

Johannesburg - Wages and conditions of employment in the taxi and hospitality sector will be reviewed, the labour department said on Friday.

Labour standards acting director Titus Mtsweni said the review process would begin with hearings on February 18 in Mpumalanga.

“We will be hosting joint public hearings and site visits, because both sectoral determinations 1/8hospitality and taxi sector 3/8 are due for review by 1 July 2013,” he said.

The taxi industry sectoral determination came into effect in July 2005 and in the hospitality sector in July 2007.

It covered areas such as minimum working hours, minimum wages, number of leave days and termination rules.

Mtsweni encouraged employers, employees, trade unions and organisations to participate in this year's reviews.

The reviews, which were conducted every three years, would assist in determining a new minimum wage level and what impact the proposed wages would have on job creation and losses.

The department said the reviews also determined the impact proposed wages would have on poverty alleviation and the cost of living.

The current minimum wage for a taxi driver was R2450. Taxi rank marshals earned a minimum of R1959.

In the hospitality sector, a company with 10 or less employees paid employees a minimum of R1981 a month. Companies with more than 10 employees paid minimum wages of R2209.

After the reviews, the department was expected to report its findings to the Employment's Conditions Commission.

The body would advise Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant once the report was completed. After further consultations, Oliphant would set the minimum wage levels. - Sapa