14 August 2003

The department of labour has reminded employers that domestic workers' wages must be increased by at least 8% from 1 November 2003. This means that a full-time domestic worker in a predominantly urban area should, as of November, take home a minimum of R864 a month, while those in rural areas should take home at least R702 a month.

All domestic workers, including gardeners, are entitled to the November wage increase, notwithstanding any other wage adjustment that may have taken place during the rest of the year.

It is one year since Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana launched the domestic worker sectoral determination, setting basic working conditions and minimum wages for domestic workers - and also making provision for annual wage increases.

In predominantly urban areas, the wage was initially set at a minimum of R4.51 per hour for domestics working 27 ordinary hours or less per week - from November it will be at least R4.87 per hour - and a minimum of R4.10 for those working more than 27 hours a week - from November it will be at least R4.42 per hour.

In rural areas, workers on or under 27 hours a week should get an increase to a minimum of R3.95 per hour, while those working more than 27 hours a week should get an increase to at least R3.59 per hour.

Should year-on-year consumer inflation be greater than 10 percent on 31 October, the department will adjust the 8% wage increase upwards.

Mdladlana proclaims sectoral determinations for those sectors of the economy where workers are vulnerable either because of the nature of their work or because of inadequate union representation.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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