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Article: New minimum wage of domestic workers
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
The minimum wage of domestic workers will rise from next month, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant announced on Friday.
From December 1, the minimum wage of those working more than 27 hours a week in metropolitan areas will be R9.63 an hour, while that of their rural and small-town counterparts will be R8.30, her department said in a statement.
From December 1, the minimum wage of those working more than 27 hours a week in metropolitan areas will be R9.63 an hour, while that of their rural and small-town counterparts will be R8.30, her department said in a statement.
koeksGHT
Dealer
This is still very low
Zewp
Banned
Roughly just under R80 a day then provided most domestic workers work from about 8 to 4. Still peanuts.
ajax
Executive Member
Fully agree with you.
reactor_sa
Executive Member
Wtf, I already pay just short of 3x minimum wage then! Geeez, no wonder we see so many articles on this abuse of domestic workers!
Nicodeamus
Honorary Master
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those rates do not apply to immigrants from Zimbabwe, Malawi or Lesotho 
oldBastard
Expert Member
Flip it, our gets R300 per day, but she only works twice a week for us.
I think R77 is fair.
There is a huge reason why government will not jump in and more than double the minimum wage for domestic workers. More than 90% of them will be thrown for the wolves and sent back to poverty if government does this.
The fact is, there are not a lot of people in South Africa who really earns more than R8000 (clear - after deductions) in the country. Being forced to pay a domestic worker R150 per day, and employing one for a full work week, will cost R3000 a month. That person still has to pay rent, buy food, water & electricity, etc., etc. Almost half the salary will have to go towards the domestic worker. This is not possible.
So, before anyone says: "If you can't afford a domestic worker, then don't make use of them" - you should remember that many of them will be happy with earning R77 per day, instead of earning nothing at all.
There is a huge reason why government will not jump in and more than double the minimum wage for domestic workers. More than 90% of them will be thrown for the wolves and sent back to poverty if government does this.
The fact is, there are not a lot of people in South Africa who really earns more than R8000 (clear - after deductions) in the country. Being forced to pay a domestic worker R150 per day, and employing one for a full work week, will cost R3000 a month. That person still has to pay rent, buy food, water & electricity, etc., etc. Almost half the salary will have to go towards the domestic worker. This is not possible.
So, before anyone says: "If you can't afford a domestic worker, then don't make use of them" - you should remember that many of them will be happy with earning R77 per day, instead of earning nothing at all.
Lycanthrope
Honorary Master
How is someone supposed to survive off of R1,600 a month???
Tricky though... Force it up to at least R5,000 and fewer people will hire domestic workers. Keep it as is and you're essentially abusing people... R1,600 a month? What a ****ing joke.
Tricky though... Force it up to at least R5,000 and fewer people will hire domestic workers. Keep it as is and you're essentially abusing people... R1,600 a month? What a ****ing joke.
R1600 is better than R0, of course domestic workers often get other benefits such as food and accomodation from employers. If someone is willing to work for R1600 then let them.
Although I agree with you that the amount is low, this is unfortunately South Africa and something people, like government would say, should get used to and move on.
The fact is, due to BEE and affirmative action, the minority of our middle class people in this country could afford to pay any person a salary of R5000 per month. In fact, there are very few businesses that can pay people this salary.
So, again, government can try to change laws, but at the end of the day those poor women who rely on a meager income will simply end up in shacks with no income at all. The majority of middle class people are not stupid, simply get rid of domestic workers and you actually end up with more money to yourself. Just spend a couple of hours a day in cleaning your house. Then you will not be affected by these type of laws. Simple.
Ah, the good old, "If you force us to pay more, more people will go unemployed" <strike>defence</strike> blackmail for minimum wage.
They shouldn't be making less than R300 a day, but as long as the government is unwilling to shaft the communist party it's not going to happen.
They shouldn't be making less than R300 a day, but as long as the government is unwilling to shaft the communist party it's not going to happen.
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Unfortunately, the fact is that I will not be able to afford paying anyone R300 a day. My domestic worker will be the first to go. No negotiations, don't want to hear anymore about hungry children or poverty - she is out. She will stay out permanently out of fear that government may prosecute me or even increase that fee in future.
And, this is no threat, no blackmail, no defence. I simply can't afford something I do not have.
Then don't hire one. Vocations aren't charities. People don't hire other people for meagre wages because they want to do good - they hire people because they're able to exploit their situation.
Great. Hopefully she'll get a better paying job or a government grant, etcetera. Not saying she will, but certainly she won't be trapped in a glass ceiling.
Great. The world doesn't need your charity.
Great. At least you fear breaking the law.
I never said you needed to employ a domestic.
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In fact, let me be quite honest here.
I had a domestic worker for more than 9 years - lovely woman. When government first started with the minimum wage I let her go with immediate effect.
For many years now we clean ourselves. Once every 2 months or so we will get a company to come do this.
I paid my domestic worker way more than the minimum wage required at the time, but I made the decision to let her go not knowing what government might do in future. I did not want to find myself in a position where I am forced by law to pay something I cannot afford.
I had a domestic worker for more than 9 years - lovely woman. When government first started with the minimum wage I let her go with immediate effect.
For many years now we clean ourselves. Once every 2 months or so we will get a company to come do this.
I paid my domestic worker way more than the minimum wage required at the time, but I made the decision to let her go not knowing what government might do in future. I did not want to find myself in a position where I am forced by law to pay something I cannot afford.
Believe you me I will not.
10 years ago I paid my domestic worker R100 per day. Since she left I enjoyed spending the extra cash on Levi jeans, MacDonalds, presents for the kids, each and every month. I no longer want to employ one.
I hope so too, because a year after she left she still came back crying for work every month. Luckily I bought a new home and moved away. (Besides, back then my domestic worker earned R2,000 a month - way more than any government grant she will get today)
I totally agree and have no reason to hand out my money as well to any charity. I work too hard for it.
Of course I do and always will be.
Never needed anyone to tell me to. Hiring was my decision and firing too, albeit with a little help from government.
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