Domestic workers are paid according to demarcated regions.
In Area A, which includes the Ekurhuleni Metro, workers must now earn a minimum wage of R18.01 per hour – a R1.03 difference from this year’s R16.98, which was implemented last year.
Read: Wage increase for domestic workers
To give you a better idea of what that means, here are two examples:
If you have a full-time domestic worker (Monday to Friday) e.g. from 8am to 4pm, the minimum wage amount will be (more or less) R2 881.60 per month.
When employing a domestic worker part-time e.g. two days a week from 8am to 4pm, the minimum wage amount will be R1 152.64 per month.
Employers need to determine their domestic worker’s hours and conclude whether they are paying according to the law, or under-paying the employee.
When reviewing conditions of employment and the minimum wage, the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) considers the following factors:
• The size of the operations.
• The ability of employers to carry on their business successfully.
• The cost of living.
• The alleviation of poverty.
• Conditions of employment.
• Wage differentials and inequality.
• The likely impact of any proposed condition of employment, on current employment or the creation of employment.
• The possible impact of any proposed conditions of employment on the health, safety or welfare of employees.
Read: Bakery workers strike
Asking whether the community can afford a domestic worker full-time, part-time or not at all during South Africa’s tough economy, Springs residents responded on the Advertiser’s Facebook page:
• Pat Barnard: “Not at all.”
• Melanie en Phillip Roos: “Not at all.”
• Mariena Kaalsen: “Worked by myself all my life.”
• Anita van Greunen: “My handjies was nog nooit rond nie, ek weet net dat daar ‘n hele paar huishulpe gaan wees wat nie meer werk gaan hê nie. Jy kan nie minder betaal nie, al is hulle bereid om daar voor te werk. Die regering verbied dit, nou wat gemaak?
• Merle Jewill: “Whether I can afford it or not, I prefer to do the work myself. A lot less hassles in many sectors.”
• Violet Taljaard: “I have no option, I do my own housework. Sassa pensioners can hardly afford living.”
• Chriszel Kruger-Steynberg: “Not at all.”
• Amanda Stander: “No, I don’t have a domestic worker, I do it myself.”
• Cherylee Erasmus: “Between me, my sister and my mom, we do it alone.”
• Lourina Jansen van Vuuren: “Not at all.”
• Michelle Kelly: “Not at all.”
• Robin Dawes: ” I do the work myself, less problems.”
• Nicolene Veldman: “Ek maak alleen my huis en tuin skoon. Nee, dankie.”
• Meisie van Dyk: “I have always done it myself.”
Note: Some comments edited.
