The Department of Labour has announced that the minimum wages for domestic workers and contract cleaning staff will increase on 1 December, 2016.
The Department said the latest relief ahead of the festive season will be applicable until 30 November, 2017, which also ends the current three-year wage cycle.
Department spokesperson, Mokgadi Pela, said the minimum wage adjustment was in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
He said both domestic workers and contract cleaning staff are considered as vulnerable, hence the Sectoral Determination governing minimum wage and conditions of employment.
The Department of Labour said the new sectoral determination of domestic workers prescribes that the minimum wages for domestic workers who work more than 27 ordinary hours per week will earn as follows:
Area A (those in major metropolitan areas) will earn R12.42 (R11.44: 2015/2016) hourly rate, R559.09 (R514.82: 2015/2016 ) weekly rate and R2422.54 (R2230.70: 2015/2016) monthly rate.
Area B (those not mentioned in Area A) R11.31 (R10.23: 2015/2016) hourly rate, R508.93 (R460.15: 2015/2016) weekly rate and R2205.17 (R1993.82: 2015/2016) monthly rate.
While the Minimum wages for domestic workers from 1 December 2014 to 30 November 2015 who work 27 ordinary hours per week or less is as follows:
Area A (those in major metropolitan areas) is R14.54 (R13.39: 2015/2016) hourly rate, R392.58 (R361.50: 2015/2016) weekly rate and R1701.06 (R1566.35: 2015/2016) monthly rate.
Area B (those not mentioned in Area A) R13.53 (R12.07: 2015/2016) hourly rate, R360.54 (R325.98: 2015/2016) weekly rate and R1562.21 (R1412.49: 2015/2016) monthly rate.
In terms of Sectoral Determination Area A includes: Bergrivier Local Municipality, Breederivier Local Municipality, Buffalo City Local Municipality, Cape Agulhas Local, Municipality, Cederberg Local Municipality, City of Cape Town, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Drakenstein Local Municipality, Ekurhulen Metropolitan Municipality, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Ethekwini Metropolitan Unicity, Gamagara Local Municipality, George Local Municipality, Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality, Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality, Kgatelopele Local Municipality, Khara Hais Local Municipality, Knysna Local Municipality, Kungwini Local Municipality, Kouga Local Municipality, Langeberg Local Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality, Makana Local, Municipality, Mangaung Local Municipality, Matzikama Local Municipality, Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Middelburg Local Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality, Mngeni Local Municipality, Mogale Local Municipality, Mosselbaai Local Municipality, Msunduzi Local Municipality, Mtubatu Local Municipality, Nama Khoi Local Municipality, Nelson Mandela, Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality, Oudtshoorn Local Municipality, Overstrand Local Municipality, Plettenbergbaai Local Municipality, Potchefstroom Local Municipality, Randfontein Local Municipality, Richtersveld Local Municipality, Saldanha Bay Local Municipality, Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality, Stellenbosch Local Municipality, Swartland Local Municipality, Swellendam Local Municipality, Theewaterskloof, Local Municipality, Umdoni Local Municipality, uMhlathuze Local Municipality and Witzenberg Local Municipality.
Domestic workers include housekeepers, gardeners, nannies, domestic drivers among others.
The Department of Labour said that "in terms of the Sectoral Determination that prescribes minimum wages in the sector - workers in Area A: Metropolitan Councils that include City of Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay; and also Local Councils of Emfuleni, Merafong, Mogale City, Metsimaholo, Randfontein, Stellenbosch, Westonaria - will earn a minimum of R19,38 (R18,01: 2015/2016) per hour."
"In Area B - the rates applicable are those as prescribed by the Kwa-Zulu Natal Contract Cleaning Bargaining Council. And in the Area C - which includes the rest of South Africa the minimum rate per hour will be R17,66 (2015/2016: R16,41). The increases cover the period 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2017."
