From December 1, 2016, and for 12 months, the minimum wages have been adjusted upwards by between 8.6 and 12.1%.  See the table below for details.  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) allows for such regulation through the medium of a Sectoral Determination.  Domestic employees are by law regarded  as vulnerable and include, but are not limited to, housekeepers, gardeners, nannies and domestic drivers.  Distinctions are made for employees working above and below 27 hours per week and in different areas.  The minimum wages are compared with the previous year in the table.

The determination covers the following:  

  • all domestic workers in South Africa
  • Persons employed by employment services
  • Independent contractors
  • A person doing gardening in a private home
  • Persons who look after children, the aged, the sick, the frail or the disabled in a private household
  • A person employed to drive the car taking the children of the household to school

Source: Domestic worker minimum wage increases from 1 December 2016

Area A (those in major metropolitan areas)
Above 27 hpw % 27 hpw & below %
Now Before   Now Before  
Monthly 2,422.54 2,230.70 8.6 1,701.06 1,566.35 8.6
Weekly 559.09 514.82 8.6 392.58 361.50 8.6
Hourly 12.42 11.44 8.6 14.54 13.39 8.6
Area B (those not mentioned in Area A)
Above 27 hpw % 27 hpw & below %
Monthly 2,205.17 1,993.82 10.6 1,562.21 1,412.49 10.6
Weekly 508.93 460.15 10.6 360.54 325.98 10.6
Hourly 11.31 10.23 10.6 13.53 12.07 12.1

In terms of the Sectoral Determination Area A includes:

Bergrivier Local Municipality, Breederivier Local Municipality, Buffalo City Local Municipality, Cape Agulhas Local, Municipality, Cederberg Local Municipality, City of Cape Town, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Drakenstein Local Municipality, Ekurhulen Metropolitan Municipality, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Ethekwini Metropolitan Unicity, Gamagara Local Municipality, George Local Municipality, Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality, Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality, Kgatelopele Local Municipality, Khara Hais Local Municipality, Knysna Local Municipality, Kungwini Local Municipality, Kouga Local Municipality, Langeberg Local Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality, Makana Local, Municipality, Mangaung Local Municipality, Matzikama Local Municipality, Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Middelburg Local Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality, Mngeni Local Municipality, Mogale Local Municipality, Mosselbaai Local Municipality, Msunduzi Local Municipality, Mtubatu Local Municipality, Nama Khoi Local Municipality, Nelson Mandela, Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality, Oudtshoorn Local Municipality, Overstrand Local Municipality, Plettenbergbaai Local Municipality, Potchefstroom Local Municipality, Randfontein Local Municipality, Richtersveld Local Municipality, Saldanha Bay Local Municipality, Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality, Stellenbosch Local Municipality, Swartland Local Municipality, Swellendam Local Municipality, Theewaterskloof, Local Municipality, Umdoni Local Municipality, uMhlathuze Local Municipality and Witzenberg Local Municipality.

See also summary of sectoral determination seven: domestic worker sector