For a nutritionally complete basket of food, the cost for a family of 5 (2 adults, 2 children and 1 elder), is R3,125.87<\/strong>, Pacsa said, showing a R2,382.82<\/strong> difference between what people can afford, and what they need to get basic nutrition.<\/p>\n Minimum wage should be R8,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Pacsa sparked some controversy in July by recommending that the National Minimum Wage be set at R8,000 a month<\/a><\/strong>, so that households could live dignified lives.<\/p>\n According to the group’s findings, while a minimum wage of R3,200 would be enough to buy a nutritional basket for a family of 5, it would leave only R74 for the rest of the month to spend on everything else – rent, transport, clothing, education, etc- which is impossible.<\/p>\n With the current average minimum wage in South Africa (across all sectors) at R2,362, a nutritional basket leaves\u00a0households R764 in the red.<\/p>\n Pacsa’s data shows that only an income of R8,000 would be adequate.<\/p>\n These are the jobs that pay the highest minimum wages in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Panel to advise on SA minimum wage appointed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n How a R4,000 South African minimum wage compares to the rest of the world<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Pacsa](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Pacsa-August-640x344.png\")
<\/a>Economists have argued that a minimum wage of R4,000 would destroy jobs and ultimately stunt the economy even further.<\/p>\nMore on wages<\/h3>\n