The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the progressive 2024 increase in the Basic Conditions of Employment Income Threshold with effect from 1 April 2024.  The Threshold will increase from R241 110.59 to the amount of R254 371.67 per annum or R21 197.64 per month from R 20 092.55 previously. 

This inflation-based increase is important to ensure that the various labour rights, protections and benefits linked to the Threshold are protected from inflationary erosion.  It is critical that this threshold be adjusted annually to ensure that these critical rights are retained as workers receive annual salary increases as well. Key labour rights, protections and benefits linked to it include the right to overtime pay, automatic access to the CCMA as well as salary caps for unemployment and occupational injuries and diseases insurance.

Whilst COSATU welcomes this increase, we remain deeply aggrieved that for several years the Threshold was not adjusted by the Department of Employment and Labour.  This meant a significant reduction in the number of workers covered by these labour protections.

The Federation has tabled proposals at the National Minimum Wage Commission for the Threshold to be comprehensively reviewed and substantially increased to ensure that all workers are fully covered and protected by our progressive labour laws. The failure by the Department to protect these hard-won rights is an abysmal shame that must be corrected.

Issued by COSATU