Hospitality industry salaries increase

Through the revised Hospitality Sectoral Determination, employers whose establishments have more than 10 workers are expected to pay their employees a minimum wage of R2209 per month and an hourly rate of R11.33.

According to the department, hospitality workers who have been employed for 10 years or less in the industry must take home a minimum increase of R1981.48 per month and R10.17 per hour.

According to the sectoral determination, which came into effect on July 2007, workers paid on a commission (not tips) basis should at least earn the minimum wage over and above and that gratuities (tips) should not form part of the minimum wage.

The legislation also stipulates that workers should work no more than 45 hours a week, and should not work more than nine hours a day if they work a five-day week, or more than eight hours a day if they work for more than five days a week.

Sunday work in the sector should be paid either at 1.5 or double the ordinary rate depending on whether the employee ordinarily works on a Sunday or not as outlined in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

The Hospitality Sectoral Determination regulates wages, working hours and other basic conditions of employment for workers in the Hospitality sector.