UPDATE: Domestic workers’ wage increase ‘not enough’
Calculate if you are paying your domestic employee enough.
THE announcement by Department of Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant that domestic workers’ minimum wages must be increased from 1 December has not only gained support, but some sectors believe the 8% to 10% hike is still too low to pull workers in the sector out from under the poverty line.
From Tuesday the minimum monthly wage in urban areas was increased from last year’s R2 065.47 to R2 230.70, and in rural areas from R1 845.13 to R1 993.82.
But Sage HR & Payroll Development Manager Madelein Taljaard believes domestic workers are still underpaid.
‘In South Africa domestic employees make up a significant portion of the workforce.
‘But as pivotal as it is to many people, this service shows little value when it comes to wages.
‘Domestic employees often have to survive on low wages that are not sufficient to cover their basic needs.
Calculate it
She suggests all domestic employers use the calculator available on the website Living Wage (www.living-wage.co.za) to ensure they are in fact abiding by the law.
‘It allows you to calculate whether you are paying your domestic employee enough each month to cover their basic needs.
‘Minimum wages cover a mere 88% of one person’s household living costs, but 75% of all domestic employees are the sole income providers in their households, often looking after three or more family members.
‘In such cases, the minimum wage only covers 44% or even less of their needs. This is not enough to escape poverty.’
House rules
Taljaard highlighted that domestics who work full-time are entitled to three weeks paid leave, as well as a reasonable number of days of sick leave per year.
Work on Sundays or public holidays also need to be compensated at a higher rate.
‘It takes only a few steps to be a responsible employer of a domestic employee. Interview the candidate, have an employment contract as stated in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, be clear about the job description and duties, ensure all tools for the job are provided and if a disagreement occurs, raise and solve it immediately,’ said Taljaard.
