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The Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, has announced that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) has increased from R21.69 to R23.19 per hour for the year 2022, with effect from 01 March 2022.

“It is illegal and unfair labour practice for an employer to change working hours or other employment conditions in order to implement the NMW. The NMW is the amount payable for ordinary hours of work and excludes payment of allowances such as transportation, tools, food, or lodging tips, bonuses, and gifts,” said Minister Nxesi.

Government departments are working together to curb drug use in communities.

During a webinar on the treatment for and care of people with drug abuse disorders, the Department of Social Development (DSD) revealed that through a partnership with the police and health officials, DSD-run drug centres help rehabilitate drug offenders, rather than merely convicting and punishing them.

It is hoped that through treatment, people are steered away from a lifetime of drug abuse and criminal behaviour.

ONE OF the country’s youngest school principals shows that with dedication and passion, Maths and Science can be mastered.

Ngqwala Senior Secondary School Principal Abonga Mdze (29) led his school to an 88.6% matric pass rate in 2021 – up from 45% in 2019.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently delivered the State of the Nation Address, during which he gave feedback on government programmes over the past year and announced new plans for 2022 and beyond. Vuk’uzenzele unpacks the programmes in numbers.

Economy and jobs

R1.2 trillion – value of the target set by government nearly four years ago to mobilise new investment over five years.

The gift of blood from a donor saved the life of Mosa Mphore (34) after complications from an earlier kidney transplant.

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says efforts are underway to make it easy for small businesses to do business in South Africa.

Minister Nxesi was speaking during a debate on the 2022 State of the Nation Address recently.

“We were mindful of the fact that businesses go through seasons and stages and we were deliberate in making sure our labour laws speak to their twists and turns.

As a way to revive South Africa’s economy, government has identified various sectors to stimulate investment and job creation.

“The hemp and cannabis sector has the potential to create more than 130 000 new jobs. We are streamlining the regulatory processes so that the hemp and cannabis sector can thrive like it is in other countries, such as Lesotho,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Parussia Muhigirwa (13) is alive and thriving today thanks to someone for selflessly registering to become an organ donor.

As we work to grow our economy and create employment, there is much debate about the relative roles of the state and business in pursuing these goals.

Some people have suggested that we must make a choice between, on the one hand, a developmental state that plays a vital role in economic and social transformation, and, on the other, a vibrant, expanding private sector that drives growth and employment.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced in his 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that government plans to scrap the National State of Disaster as the country enters a new phase in the management of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“It is our intention to end the National State of Disaster as soon as we have finalised other measures under the National Health Act and other legislation to contain the pandemic,” said the President.