Domestic workers set for wage increase

Domestic workers in A Areas such as urban areas on the Cape Peninsula, and Pretoria, Durban and in B Areas, will be on a new pay rate from 1 December. (Image: NASA, via Wikimedia Commons)

The upward adjustment is part of an annual binding determination by the Labour Minister in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).

As from 1 December 2013 to 30 November 2014, the minimum wages for domestic workers, who work more than 27 hours per week, will be as follows:

• Area A [all urban areas with municipalities such as Buffalo City, City of Tshwane, Emalahleni, Johannesburg and others]: R9.63 hourly, R433.35 weekly (for a 45-hour week) and R 1 877.70 monthly (for a 45-hour week)
• Area B [includes those municipalities not included in Area A]: R8.30 hourly, R373.50 weekly (for a 45-hour week) and R1618.37 monthly (for a 45-hour week)

The minimum wages for domestic workers who work 27 hours per week or less are as follows:

• Area A: R11.27 hourly, R304.29 weekly (for a 27-hour week) and R1 318.48 monthly (for a 27-hour week)
• Area B: R9.80hourly, R264.60 weekly (for a 27-hour week and R1 146.51 monthly (for a 27-hour week)

Last year's hourly rate for Area A was R8.95. The minimum rate in Area A is calculated as - minimum wage for the past period + consumer price index (CPI) + 1%.

Last year's hourly rate for Area B was R7.65. The minimum rate in Area B is calculated as - minimum wage for the past period + CPI + 2%.

"The Department of Labour wishes to caution employers that in terms of the law, a domestic worker may not be made to work more than 45 hours a week; work more than nine hours per day for a five-day work week; and also work more than eight hours a day for a six-day work week," said the department.

Overtime must be paid at one and half times the employee's normal wage or an employee may agree to get paid time-off.