New average domestic worker salary increases to R3,700 per month
The Department of Labour has just announced the new minimum wage for domestic workers in South Africa. Will South African households be able to afford to pay it?
Domestic workers in South Africa will be delighted to know that the government has increased the minimum wage by 20%. Until now, domestic workers had been earning R19.09 per hour.
According to eNCA, the increase will see domestic workers in South Africa earning R23 per hour or R3,700 monthly (20 days, 8 hours a day).
The increase is set to start on 1 March 2022.
The government has urged households to comply with the new minimum wage, or run the risk of facing legal action.
However, the government has made provision for households that cannot afford to pay the minimum wage to apply at the Department of Labour centre for exemption.
READ: Employer deducts jelly babies, toiletries, and bread from domestic worker's R3,000 salary
According to the report, there are currently 900,000 domestic workers in South Africa. This number has declined following the COVID-19 pandemic that led to many domestic workers losing their jobs.
Some employers also suffered financial strains due to the pandemic, with some getting pay cuts or retrenchments.
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