Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana beamed as he announced the new wage regime that will come into effect on November 1 setting minimum pay levels for South Africa’s 1,2 million domestic workers — and promising “a new beginning for our mothers at home”.
Mdladlana, whose own mother was a domestic worker, set the lowest monthly wage payable — in rural areas — at R428,22 a month.
After three years of investigation the government says the minimum hourly rate for domestic workers in urban areas — including Durban, Cape Town, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Tshwane and Johannesburg — must be R4,10 an hour or a monthly rate of R800 a month if they work more than 27 hours a week.
But the wide-ranging sectoral determination also provides for annual wage increases of at least 8% on November 1 next year and November 1 2004. If the annual increase in the consumer price index (CPI) reported by Statistics South Africa six weeks before a wage increase comes into effect is 10% or higher, domestic workers will be entitled to receive wage increases equivalent to the CPI increase.
An 8% hike will take up the hourly rate for urban domestics working longer than 27 hours a week to R4,42 next year and R4,77 in 2004. Their monthly rate will rise to R861,90 next year and to R930 in 2004.
In rural areas domestics must be paid R650 a month if they work more than 27 hours — but if they work 27 hours or less a week their monthly rate can’t be less than R428,22 from November 1.
In urban areas the minimum monthly rate will be R527,67 for those working 27 hours or less or an hourly rate of R4,51. This will rise to R569 and R4,87 from November 1 next year and to R614,25 and R5,25 in 2004.
From September 1, the employer will not be able to receive any pay — or withhold any payment from a domestic in respect of the employment or training of that worker, the supply of work equipment, clothing or food.
The worker must not be required to purchase any goods from the employer or from any person, shop or other business nominated by the employer. An employer may not fine a worker. An employer may, however, reduce by 10% the wage for a room or other accommodation if it is weatherproof, has at least a window, a door that lock and a toilet and bath or shower — if the worker does not have access to any other bathroom.