Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to field questions on National Minimum Wage and World Economic Forum, National Assembly, Cape Town 01 March 2017

Cape Town - Deputy President and Leader of Government Business Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday 01 March 2017 provide oral replies in the National Assembly regarding a number of issues of national interest raised by Members of Parliament.
 
Issues tabled for oral replies include the national minimum wage, the Health Ombudsman report on Gauteng health tragedy, South Africa’s participation in the recently held World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, declaration of financial interests in terms of the Executive Code of Ethics, the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill and security measures in the National Assembly.
 
 The briefing by the Deputy President takes place against the background of the recent signing of agreements by several Nedlac social   partners - government, business, labour and communities on measures to strengthen labour stability, collective bargaining and modalities for the introduction of a national minimum wage.
 
These agreements represent a significant advance in the country’s efforts to address the challenges of wage inequality and labour instability, while providing a necessary step in tackling the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
 
The agreements are a culmination of a call made by President Jacob Zuma during his state of the nation address of 2014 in which he tasked social partners at NEDLAC under the leadership of Deputy President Ramaphosa to deliberate upon wages, wage inequality, protracted and violent strikes and the national minimum wage.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa is also expected to brief the national assembly on the successful participation of team South Africa at World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland under the theme: Responsive and Responsible Leadership. In this regard, Deputy President Ramaphosa led Team South Africa, comprising government, business and labour to promote South Africa as open to business and a preferred destination for foreign direct investments.
 
The delegation also utilised the Forum to highlight the work that government is doing to implement economic transformation and the reform agenda; make progress towards achieving inclusive growth and employment; restoring investor confidence; achieve supportive business confidence and refine government spending efficiency.
 
The Deputy President is also expected to deal with the issue of the feasibility of a constitutional amendment regarding relations between the national and provincial spheres of governments arising out of the Health Ombudsman Report on the recent Gauteng health tragedy.
 
The Deputy President will also deal with the issue of financial declarations in terms of the Executive Code of Ethics and reflect on security measures in the national assembly including discussions in the standing committee on Finance regarding the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment bill.
 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria