Minimum Wage for Domestic Workers?

[DJ...]

Gamer, bartering is no longer a common practice. I suspect you would bitch and moan if your company decided for you what products you will use, what clothes you should wear, what food you will eat and then dropped your salary because of these so called "benefits". If the combination of your actual payment and bartering equates to R200/day, then why not just pay her R200/day in cash instead. You're not out of pocket any more than you were before because she will no longer be using your goods/facilities and I'm pretty sure she'd be a lot happier.

BTW, you forgot to mention the increased electricity and water costs she causes you...

 

[DJ...]

I hope she (and her 9 children) are suffering.

I can't imagine why she didn't enjoy her working environment...

 

[hyperian]

When I was a software intern and had just gotten first class computer science honours I only earnt R200 a day, and R60 of that went on petrol. This was only 2 years ago, so it wasn't the R200 a month my folks used to pay the mortgage with.

 

[adrianx]

I can't imagine why she didn't enjoy her working environment...

She was paid R1300 p/m in 2004. Accommodation & food included. Five days a week from 8am to 5pm - no work on weekends - ever! She took much more than the prescribed leave, and was abusive towards my invalid dad - in front of me!! She also stole.

DJK - I still hope that she suffers. Maybe not all of the children that she produced, but certainly her, in her old age.

Edit: Why do you think the CCMA agreed with me? I'm not talking 1984, I'm talking about 2004!

 

[DJ...]

While I agree with your sentiment, there are companies that do decide on behalf of their employees, what benefits their employees will get, for example which medical aid & pension scheme the employee will be stuck with [i.e. take the job or leave it], obviously there are reasons for this - economies of scale allows the employer to negotiate [theoretically] for a better deal on behalf of all its employees instead of just a few.

That certainly crossed my mind while typing it out, however in the case of domestics, the arguments such as economies of scale and alike are not relevant. It's merely used as a justification to pay them a pittance and I don't agree with it. Now if the employer of a domestic were to contribute towards a medical aid and pension fund on the domestic's behalf then I could understand it as being "part of her package". I highly doubt they are in a position to properly do this themselves and I understand the benefit from their perspective. Buying them food, clothes and other goods - well they can do that themselves...

 

[smokey]

Low salary?!?! LOW BLEEDIN SALARY?

C'mon people. Don't bleed your hearts out. Cleaners are a dime a dozen and simple economics decides that salary. Nothing else. Hell, my mate is starting out as an accountant and he only gets R4000 a month. An accountant!

Pfft... socialists.

Disclaimer - I don't comment on how they get by on that type of salary, or that life isn't very difficult for them. Just that they really couldn't (shouldn't) get more - simply due to the factors of supply. That's it.

 

[Gamer]

Gamer, bartering is no longer a common practice. I suspect you would bitch and moan if your company decided for you what products you will use, what clothes you should wear, what food you will eat and then dropped your salary because of these so called "benefits". If the combination of your actual payment and bartering equates to R200/day, then why not just pay her R200/day in cash instead. You're not out of pocket any more than you were before because she will no longer be using your goods/facilities and I'm pretty sure she'd be a lot happier.

BTW, you forgot to mention the increased electricity and water costs she causes you...

Oh for goodnes sake, she's happy, we have open communication. Her agreed wage is R85.00. Everything else we give her...it's not part of any package. We buy her only what she wants, she gives us the damn list. If she doesn't like it she can be unemployed or go work for minimum age elsewhere or get you in as her CCMA rep. My small household consisting of my wife and I provide one other person who is less fortunate than us with food, clothing and income. By the way, I don't have a company to bitch and moan to, I got retrenched in January so no income for me, but I still ensure that she gets taken care of.

 

[DJ...]

smokey - your mate's an imbecile if he really is a qualified CA working for R4k per month...

 

[smokey]

Not a qualified CA dude... he is a junior accountant - just started. One month on the job. Where do you get CA from post?

 

[DJ...]

Oh for goodnes sake, she's happy, we have open communication. Her agreed wage is R85.00. Everything else we give her...it's not part of any package. We buy her only what she wants, she gives us the damn list. If she doesn't like it she can be unemployed or go work for minimum age elsewhere or get you in as her CCMA rep. My small household consisting of my wife and I provide one other person who is less fortunate than us with food, clothing and income. By the way, I don't have a company to bitch and moan to, I got retrenched in January so no income for me, but I still ensure that she gets taken care of.

Like I said before, you're not out of pocket if you pay her R200/day and if your communication is so open, I'm sure she'd agree to such a large increase over having you buy her goods for her. Put yourself in her shoes - if you were working, would you rather have your company pay you extra and let you decide what clothes you buy, what food you eat and what products you use or would you prefer that they pay you less and make those decisions for you?

It's not about whether or not she is happy - her happiness yardstick is far shorter than yours in all probability. She could be a lot happier though, I'm sure. By the way, does she have an employment contract and do you contribute towards UIF for her as well?

 

[DJ...]

Not a qualified CA dude... he is a junior accountant - just started. One month on the job. Where do you get CA from post?

Accountants tend to have the associated qualifications - that's all. Unqualified, junior financial "assistants" are far from being accountants...

 

[adrianx]

DJK - here's another little titbit. My maid was so stupid, she once told me about the sun/moon sinking into the sea. She didn't even know that the earth was round! Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes the minister of Science, Arts and Culture.... That's how things work nowadays, isn't it?

 

[smokey]

Accountants tend to have the associated qualifications - that's all. Unqualified, junior financial "assistants" are far from being accountants...

And who exactly finishes varsity as a certified CA?

Anyway, lets stop derailing this thread and if you want to argue more - I certainly won't stop you from creating another thread.

 

[smokey]

DJK - here's another little titbit. My maid was so stupid, she once told me about the sun/moon sinking into the sea. She didn't even know that the earth was round! Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes the minister of Science, Arts and Culture.... That's how things work nowadays, isn't it?

Now what the flaming bacon in the pan does that have to do with their salaries?

 

[adrianx]

Bread and water....

I don't have a DW (aka maid) any more. The last one was the last straw! She reported me to the CCMA and, luckily, they told me that she was a chancer! There's no way that I will ever employ another domestic worker again. I've just had to learn to do things the "non-South African" way. It's been 5 years, and my house is usually fairly clean. I hope she (and her 9 children) are suffering.

I can't imagine why she didn't enjoy her working environment...

She was paid R1300 p/m in 2004. Accommodation & food included. Five days a week from 8am to 5pm - no work on weekends - ever! She took much more than the prescribed leave, and was abusive towards my invalid dad - in front of me!! She also stole.

DJK - I still hope that she suffers. Maybe not all of the children that she produced, but certainly her, in her old age.

Edit: Why do you think the CCMA agreed with me? I'm not talking 1984, I'm talking about 2004!

Now what the flaming bacon in the pan does that have to do with their salaries?

@smokey See? Read the threads.

 

[DJ...]

DJK - here's another little titbit. My maid was so stupid, she once told me about the sun/moon sinking into the sea. She didn't even know that the earth was round! Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes the minister of Science, Arts and Culture.... That's how things work nowadays, isn't it?

Er, what are you on about? Have you been sniffing the smoke emanating from your head? Sounds to me like your issues are more deeply routed in race rather than your pocket...

And who exactly finishes varsity as a certified CA?

That's pretty much my point- your mate isn't an accountant.

/end derail

 

[Gamer]

Like I said before, you're not out of pocket if you pay her R200/day and if your communication is so open, I'm sure she'd agree to such a large increase over having you buy her goods for her. Put yourself in her shoes - if you were working, would you rather have your company pay you extra and let you decide what clothes you buy, what food you eat and what products you use or would you prefer that they pay you less and make those decisions for you?

It's not about whether or not she is happy - her happiness yardstick is far shorter than yours in all probability. She could be a lot happier though, I'm sure. By the way, does she have an employment contract and do you contribute towards UIF for her as well?

Her wage is R85.00. She ASKED to work for R80.00 when she was interviewed. All the extra is not benefits or perks. It's what my wife and I would like to continue to give her as we have gotten to know her. I'll ask her tomorrow morning if she'd prefer to get her R85.00 a day from us and NOTHING else, if she'd like to get her R85.00 a day from us PLUS all the other stuff we give her or that it's a pittance what we pay her and as a sign of respect, we'd rather let her go unemployed than work for that sort of pay. Those are her choices. I'll let you know her answer tomorrow.

 

[adrianx]

Er, what are you on about? Have you been sniffing the smoke emanating from your head? Sounds to me like your issues are more deeply routed in race rather than your pocket...

That's pretty much my point- your mate isn't an accountant.

/end derail

Do you also believe that the sun sinks into the sea at night? What the #%#% %##% has that got to do with race? Would you rather employ "Siener van Rensburg" or a QUALIFIED DOCTOR? I think that YOU have a problem with RACE!!!

 

[DJ...]

Her wage is R85.00. She ASKED to work for R80.00 when she was interviewed. All the extra is not benefits or perks. It's what my wife and I would like to continue to give her as we have gotten to know her. I'll ask her tomorrow morning if she'd prefer to get her R85.00 a day from us and NOTHING else, if she'd like to get her R85.00 a day from us PLUS all the other stuff we give her or that it's a pittance what we pay her and as a sign of respect, we'd rather let her go unemployed than work for that sort of pay. Those are her choices. I'll let you know her answer tomorrow.

Now you're just being obtuse for the sake of it. You've perfected the Pitbull logic, well done.

Might be better if you let her go though, so that she can find herself a better paying job...

 

[DJ...]

Do you also believe that the sun sinks into the sea at night? What the #%#% %##% has that got to do with race? Would you rather employ "Siener van Rensburg" or a QUALIFIED DOCTOR? I think that YOU have a problem with RACE!!!

Oh boo hoo.

There is a difference between being uneducated and being stupid. What the fsck her being uneducated (not stupid) has to do with what you pay her is beyond me - were you expecting a maid with a phd in quantum mechanics - I suggest next time you request a thesis on nuclear fission instead of a CV.

The fact that you don't see the difference between uneducated and stupid highlights either your ignorance or intolerance. The fact that you feel the need to go so far off topic merely to alert the rest of SA to your maid's limited education concretes that thinking. My favourite racists are the denialist racists - those who do think you're being serious when you say "I'm not racist, I just hate blacks". "Jisses Frik, I never did for understand that jokes"...