Focus on domestic workers’ salaries

This comes in the wake of calls for the increase of domestic workers’ minimum monthly salary.

The South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu) believes that domestic workers should be earning a minimum salary of at least R2 500 per month.

The union’s secretary Eunice Dladla said the current minimum wage of about R1 800 per month was not enough for domestic workers, and it was fighting for a “living wage” of between R2 500 and R3 000.

Dladla said with rising fuel and food costs, the current salary for domestic workers “means nothing”. She added that many domestic workers who had to travel to and from their employer’s residence were faced with the additional costs. Although domestic workers were entitled to transport money by law, many employers did not comply with this, she explained.

However, the department’s move to determine a new wage for domestic workers has been met with a mixed reaction from the public. Cherissa Lynn Thulukanam said her domestic worker works three times a week, which equates to about half of the month, and earns R1 800.

She said that higher wages would have a negative impact on households such as hers.

Khanyi Jules Ngcobo said it was “unskilled” labour because no qualifications were required to become a domestic worker. She said that while she would advocate for fair wages, it must be a true reflection on the job being done.

Naiomi Naidoo, whose full time domestic worker is also a nanny to her son after school, said she earned R3 500 a month, which included her transportation costs.

“The way I see it, while it is unskilled labour, I really had to look long and hard to find someone that could fulfil the role I required, as well as be a good fit with my sons.”

The public hearings were being held from 2-29 June.

Details of the Joburg hearing had yet to be confirmed, but the schedule can be viewed on the Department of Labour’s website which will be updated next week.