Minimum wage, 6 million jobs – Zuma’s big push
President Jacob Zuma promised to consider a national minimum wage, direct his government to procure 75 percent of goods and services locally and create 6 million “job opportunities” in his final speech ahead of Wednesday’s elections. The ANC, seeking a fifth successive term, will take steps to ensure workers in all industries negotiate with employers through a collective bargaining process “to ensure order and harmony in labour relations and improve the lot of workers”, he told thousands of supporters in Johannesburg yesterday. The ANC acknowledges that this election is the most contested since it forced the end of white minority rule in 1994. The party has faced protests by communities dissatisfied with the poor provision of water, electricity and housing, and has lost the support of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA, the country’s biggest trade union. The economy has also been hurt by strikes in recent years and an employment rate that remains at 24 percent.. – Bloomberg
All petrol grades to drop by 15c
The price of all grades of petrol will drop by 15c a litre from Wednesday, the Energy Department said on Friday. Diesel would decrease by 29.78c a litre, illuminating paraffin by 25c and LP gas by 4c. – Sapa