How much should you be paying your domestic worker in 2025?
Are you paying your domestic worker enough? Here's what you need to know…
South Africa's new National Minimum Wage will come into effect on Saturday, March 1, 2025, impacting how much households should pay their domestic workers.
The Department of Labour announced in February that the National Minimum Wage would increase by 4.4%, raising the hourly rate from R27.58 in 2024 to R28.79 in 2025.
This adjustment means pay increases for workers across all sectors, including domestic workers, gardeners, and house cleaners employed by private households.
How much domestic workers and other employees should earn
For employees working a standard 38-hour week, the new minimum salary will be R1,094 per week or R4,737 per month.
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Those working a 45-hour week must earn at least R1,295 per week or R5,610 per month.
For workers employed for four hours or less per day, the minimum wage is R115 per day.
Legal expert Nigel Carman from law firm Fasken stresses that employers cannot pay domestic workers less than R115 per day, even if they work four hours or less.
Wage disparities remain a problem
Despite the legal requirements, wages remain a challenge in South Africa’s domestic work sector.
Data from SweepSouth, a domestic work platform, reveals that while the average domestic worker earns R36.64 per hour – 27% above the minimum wage – this figure can vary significantly.
BusinessTech reports that 46% of domestic workers still earn below the mandated minimum wage.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) further highlights this gap, reporting a median monthly salary of R2,350 for domestic workers, which equates to just R14.69 per hour in a standard 160-hour work month.
This means many domestic workers are earning nearly half of the legally mandated minimum wage.
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Self-reported data from MyWage.co.za shows that salaries vary based on experience and employer discretion.
Entry-level domestic workers report earnings of just under R2,600 per month, while those working for higher-paying households with extensive experience can earn upwards of R7,300 per month.
With the new National Minimum Wage taking effect soon, employers must ensure they are following the law.
Households employing domestic workers need to adjust wages accordingly to avoid legal consequences and, more importantly, to ensure fair treatment of their employees.
Strict enforcement of these wage regulations will be key to protecting vulnerable workers and bridging the existing pay gaps in the domestic work sector.
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