Radio Islam News Team – 17/11/2015

The department of labour has increased the minimum wage payable to domestic workers – which will kick in from 1 December 2015 until 30 November 2016.

Reports indicate that Domestic Workers in the Western Cape are paid more than any other province at an average of R188.50 per day.

Gauteng follows averaging around R172 per day and Kwazulu-Natal averaged at R151.50 per day.

Domestic workers who work 27 ordinary hours a week or more

Minimum                    Area A                   Area B
Hourly Rate                R11.44                    R10.23
Weekly Rate               R514.82                  R460.15
Monthly Rate              R2 230.70               R1 993.82

Domestic workers who work less than 27 ordinary hours a week

Minimum                     Area A                     Area B
Hourly rate                  R13.39                     R12.07
Weekly Rate                R361.50                   R325.98
Monthly Rate               R1 566.35                R1 412.49

However spokeswoman for the South African Domestic and Allied Workers Union Sindiswa Ningiza says:

“The Union is not satisfied with the minimum wage figure and will be rallying for at least R2500 per month for a domestic worker.

According to the Ningiza, no employer will be forced to pay the exact amount of R2500 per month, the Union is only looking for the best possible result for workers.

To put the minimum figures into perspective, research from the School of Economic and Business Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand showed that the estimated cost of essential food and non-food items needed to survive is R1, 319 for one person – and R5, 276 for a household of four.

Previous research showed that as many as 45% of workers are paid below the established minimum wage.

Figures courtesy of Business Tech