The Current Minimum Wage for Domestic Workers
From 1 March 2026, the national minimum wage in South Africa increased to R30.23 per hour. This rate applies directly to domestic workers — who have been fully aligned with the national minimum wage since 2024. This rate applies regardless of where in South Africa you live, regardless of how many days per week your domestic worker works, and regardless of any verbal or written agreement you may have made with your employee to pay less. The minimum wage is a statutory requirement that cannot be contracted away.
The Four-Hour Minimum Daily Rule
If your domestic worker works on any day — even for one or two hours — you must pay them for a minimum of four hours. The effective minimum daily rate is therefore R120.92 (4 x R30.23). For part-time workers who come for a few hours each visit, this has significant implications for how you calculate their wages.
What Counts Toward the Minimum Wage
The following may NOT be offset against the minimum wage: meals or food provided, transport or transport allowances, tips, any non-cash benefit. Only the cash wage paid directly to the employee counts. You cannot pay R20 per hour in cash plus claim meals worth R10 cover the remainder — that is not how the law works.
Accommodation Deductions for Live-In Workers
Under Sectoral Determination 7, an employer may deduct a maximum of 10% of a live-in domestic worker's wage for accommodation — but only if the accommodation is weatherproof with a lockable door and bathroom access, and only if the deduction is agreed to in writing.
Monthly Minimums at 2026 Rates
For a domestic worker employed 45 hours per week (the SD7 maximum), the minimum monthly wage from 1 March 2026 is approximately R5,894.85. For a 40-hour week it is approximately R5,239.87 per month. These are legal minimums — many employers pay above these rates, particularly in urban areas.
Penalties for Underpayment
Paying below the minimum wage is a violation of the National Minimum Wage Act and SD7. The Department of Labour can issue compliance orders, recover underpaid wages, and impose fines. The worker can also lodge a complaint with the CCMA. MyHelper's payroll platform automatically calculates correct wages and flags any calculation below the legal threshold. Manage payroll correctly from R249 per month at myhelpersubmit.co.za.
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