Wage increase for domestic workers

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FROM 1 December this year, the minimum wage for domestic workers will be increased from an hourly rate of R8.95 to R9.63 and more, depending on the amount of hours employed.

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant announced the pay rise as an offer of relief to the domestic worker sector with housekeepers often falling victim to unclear terms of employment, human rights abuses and deplorable working conditions.

The adjustment by the Minister in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) states that cleaners working for more than 27 hours per week in urban areas must be paid a minimum of R9.63 per hour, R433.35 weekly or R1 877.70 monthly.

Those working 27 hours a week or less, must earn a minimum of R11.27 per hour, R304.29 weekly or R1 318.48 monthly.

The minimum rate is calculated on adding the consumer price index, which currently stands at 1%, to the minimum wage for the past period.

Employers are cautioned by the Department of Labour not to make housekeepers work for more than 45 hours a week.

‘Overtime must be paid at one-and-a-half times the employee’s normal wage or an employee may agree to receive paid time-off,’ said a statement from the department.

Community feedback

The wage increase was mostly well received by local community members on the Zululand Observer Facebook page.

‘It’s more than reasonable. My domestic works seven hours a day and receives R120 a day and lunch,’ says Wayne Beastman Rawlinson.

‘Yes, the increase is justified but in all fairness they should actually be paid a bit more,’ said Catherine Greyvenstein Moodie.

There were, however, a few concerns noted on the page about employers reducing their housekeepers’ working hours to continue paying the current minimum wage after the increase becomes effective, or even retrench their domestic help.