What are the legal requirements to employ a domestic worker in South Africa?

Pay at least R30.23/hour (from 1 March 2026); a written contract; a payslip each payday; UIF registration and monthly declarations (1% + 1%) if the worker does more than 24 hours a month; COIDA registration with the Compensation Fund; and paid annual, sick and family-responsibility leave.

Does the 24-hour-a-month rule mean I can ignore the law for a part-time worker?

No. The 24-hour threshold only decides whether UIF and COIDA registration apply. The minimum wage, a written contract and a payslip apply to every domestic worker no matter how few hours they work.

Do I really have to register for both UIF and COIDA?

Yes. They are separate systems. UIF (unemployment insurance) applies once a worker does more than 24 hours a month. COIDA (injury-on-duty cover) applies to every household that employs a domestic worker since the Mahlangu ruling.

What happens if I don't comply?

An employer who underpays, fails to register for UIF or COIDA, or doesn't issue contracts and payslips can face inspections, back-pay orders, penalties and interest, and personal liability for an uninsured injury. Compliance is cheaper and simpler than the alternative.

Compliance guide

What do I need to do to employ a domestic worker legally in South Africa?

Short answer

To employ a domestic worker compliantly in South Africa you must: pay at least the national minimum wage of R30.23 per hour (from 1 March 2026); give a written contract and a payslip every payday; register for UIF (1% + 1%, capped at R177.12 each on earnings up to R17 712) if the worker does more than 24 hours a month; register as a COIDA employer with the Compensation Fund (every household is one since the Mahlangu ruling); and give paid leave — 3 weeks' annual leave plus sick and family-responsibility leave. The minimum wage, contract and payslip apply no matter how few hours are worked.

The five things every domestic employer must get right

Compliance for a private household comes down to five duties: (1) pay at least the minimum wage; (2) put a written contract in place; (3) issue a payslip every payday; (4) register and declare for UIF and COIDA; and (5) give the right paid leave. Get those five right and you are substantially compliant. This hub links to a focused guide for each, plus the free tool that does the work for you.

Pay, contract and payslip — these apply from hour one

The national minimum wage is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026 — the full national rate, with no lower 'domestic' tier. Section 29 of the BCEA requires written particulars of employment from the start, and section 33 requires a written payslip on every payday. None of these depend on a minimum number of hours: even a once-a-week worker is entitled to the minimum wage, a contract and a payslip. See our guides on how much to pay a domestic worker, what a contract must include and what a payslip must show.

UIF and COIDA — the registration duties

If a worker does more than 24 hours a month you must register for UIF and declare them monthly: 2% in total (1% deducted from the worker, 1% added by you), capped on earnings up to R17 712, so each side pays at most R177.12 a month. Separately, since the Constitutional Court's Mahlangu judgment ([2020] ZACC 24) every household that employs a domestic worker is a COIDA employer and must register with the Compensation Fund for occupational-injury cover. The 24-hour figure is only the registration trigger — it does not switch off the minimum wage, contract or payslip.

Leave and the rest of the BCEA

A domestic worker working more than 24 hours a month earns at least 3 weeks' paid annual leave a year, paid sick leave (the days normally worked in 6 weeks over each 36-month cycle) and 3 days' family-responsibility leave for a qualifying worker. You also have to observe the correct notice periods (1, 2 or 4 weeks by length of service) and the overtime, Sunday and public-holiday premiums. Our leave guide and termination guide cover these in detail.

The fastest way to stay compliant

Run a free compliance check to see exactly where you stand, generate a BCEA-compliant contract and payslip, and use the pay calculator to confirm you're at or above the minimum. Dignita keeps the contract, monthly payslips, UIF and leave current for you — compliance tool, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

What are the legal requirements to employ a domestic worker in South Africa?: Pay at least R30.23/hour (from 1 March 2026); a written contract; a payslip each payday; UIF registration and monthly declarations (1% + 1%) if the worker does more than 24 hours a month; COIDA registration with the Compensation Fund; and paid annual, sick and family-responsibility leave.
Does the 24-hour-a-month rule mean I can ignore the law for a part-time worker?: No. The 24-hour threshold only decides whether UIF and COIDA registration apply. The minimum wage, a written contract and a payslip apply to every domestic worker no matter how few hours they work.
Do I really have to register for both UIF and COIDA?: Yes. They are separate systems. UIF (unemployment insurance) applies once a worker does more than 24 hours a month. COIDA (injury-on-duty cover) applies to every household that employs a domestic worker since the Mahlangu ruling.
What happens if I don't comply?: An employer who underpays, fails to register for UIF or COIDA, or doesn't issue contracts and payslips can face inspections, back-pay orders, penalties and interest, and personal liability for an uninsured injury. Compliance is cheaper and simpler than the alternative.

Related free tools

Compliance check How much to pay a domestic worker Register for UIF COIDA registration What a payslip must show Leave entitlements

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Dignita is a compliance tool, not legal advice. Figures are based on current South African legislation; confirm with a labour-law professional for your situation.