Domestic workers are entitled to an eight percent across the board wage increase from November 1, the Labour Department said on Friday.
Labour spokesperson Snuki Zikalala said in a statement wages must be increased by at least eight percent calculated on an hourly rate.
”This would mean a full-time domestic worker in a predominantly urban area should now take home a minimum of R861,90 and their rural counter-part should take home more than R700,05 per month,” he said.
The wage for urban areas was initially set at R4,51 per hour for domestic workers working 27 ordinary hours or less per week. From November it would be a minimum of R4,87 per hour.
The minimum of R4,10 an hour for those working more than 27 hours would be adjusted to at least R4,42, said Zikalala.
In the rural areas, those working 27 hours or less a week should get an increase to a minimum R3,95 per hour, while those working more than 27 hours should receive R3,59.
”All domestic workers, including gardeners, are entitled to an annual wage increase between November 1, 2002, and November 1, 2003.
”The annual increase also applies in instances where the domestic worker is paid more than the minimum,” Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said.
”If a wage increase was granted in this time period, but was less than eight percent, then the amount must be topped up from November 1 so it is equal to eight percent,” he said.
A wage increase made on a particular day during the year means that the next annual increase must take place on the same day next year.
The increase was stipulated in the Domestic Worker Sectoral Determination launched in August 2002.
The sectoral determination sets basic working conditions and minimum wages for domestic workers.
”The Minister proclaims sectoral determinations for those sectors of the economy where workers are vulnerable due to either the nature of their work or inadequate union representation,” said Zikalala.
Mdladlana said: ”The Sectoral Determination is part of my programme to protect the most vulnerable of workers and not only does it set working conditions and wages, but it also made provision for annual increases to those wages.” – Sapa