Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has offered a relief to the Domestic Workers Sector following an announcement that the minimum wage for the workers will be adjusted upward.
The adjustment which starts on December 1 is part of an annual binding determination by the 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 R9.63 hourly, R433.35 weekly (for a 45 hour week) and R 1877.70 monthly (for a 45 hour week)
- Area B 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 R1318.48 monthly (for a 27 hour week)
- Area B R9.80 hourly, R264.60 weekly (for a 27 hour week and R1146.51 monthly (for a 27 hour week.
Last year’s (2012) 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%.
While last year’s (2012) hourly rate for Area B was R7, 65. The minimum rate in Area B is calculated as - minimum wage for the past period + consumer price index (CPI) + 2%. In terms of sectoral determination (SD), which governs the basic wage, and conditions of employers of the vulnerable domestic workers, it divides the sector into two geographic areas: that is Area A and B.
Area A includes all urban areas with Municipalities such as Buffalo City, City of Tshwane, Emalahleni, Johannesburg and others. Area B includes those municipalities not included in Area A.
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.
Overtime must be paid at one and half times the employee’s normal wage or an employee may agree to receive paid time-off.
