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Labour Market Reform and the Evolution of the Racial Wage Hierarchy in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Allanson
  • Jonathan Atkins

    (University of Dundee)

Abstract

The central theme of this working paper is the way that the racial wage hierarchy evolved in South Africa over the period 1993 to 1999 amongst full-time regular employees of normal working age, but excluding those in the primary sector and the defence forces. We find that the transition to democratic rule in 1994 was accompanied by an improvement in the wage position of the majority African workforce relative to all other racial groups, but that these gains were not fully preserved through the latter half of the decade. The persistence of racial wage differences following the repeal of all overt discriminatory laws and regulations points to the need for concerted policy interventions to reverse the legacy of apartheid. We review the range of policy initiatives that have been taken by the South African Government since 1994 in the light of our empirical findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Allanson & Jonathan Atkins, 2001. "Labour Market Reform and the Evolution of the Racial Wage Hierarchy in Post-Apartheid South Africa," Working Papers 01059, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctw:wpaper:01059
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7209
    File Function: First version, 2001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tomei, Manuela., 2005. "Affirmative action for racial equality : features, impact and challenges," ILO Working Papers 993774763402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. repec:ilo:ilowps:377476 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Haroon Bhorat & Sumayya Goga, 2012. "The Gender Wage Gap in the Post-apartheid South African Labour Market," Working Papers 12148, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    South Africa: racial wage differences;

    JEL classification:

    • A1 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics

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