NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

In Regulation Gazette No. 77168, 08 February 2021, Vol. 668 No.the minister declared that the national minimum wage is now raised to R21.69 for each ordinary hour. The national minimum wage is the amount payable for the ordinary hours of work and does not include payment of allowances (such as transport, tools, food or accommodation) payments in kind (board or lodging), tips, bonuses and gifts. Farmworkers are now entitled to the same minimum wage of R21.69 per hour;

This change will take effect from 1 March 2021.

The above gazette provides exceptions for two worker groups as follows:

1) Domestic workers are now entitled to a minimum wage of R19.09 per hour. The commission recommended that the minimum wage of domestic workers be increased to 100% in 2022.

2) Workers employed on an expanded public works programme are now entitled to a minimum wage of R11.93 per hour.

This adjustment of the minimum wage in Rand terms for domestic workers amounts to about R350.00 per month and farm workers amounts to an increase of about R450 per month

It is important for employers to take note that In terms of the law it is an unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter hours of work or other conditions of employment in implementing the national minimum wage.

In 2018 farmworkers were entitled to a minimum wage of R18 per hour and domestic workers to a minimum wage of R15 per hour.  The minimum wages of farmworkers and domestic workers increased in March 2020 to R18.68 and R15.57 respectively.

The national minimum wage was first implemented on 1 January 2019 at a level of R20 per hour. On 1 March 2020, the minimum wage base rate was adjusted to R20.76 per hour.