What is my minimum wage as a domestic worker in 2026?
Short answer
Your minimum wage as a domestic worker is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026 — the same national minimum wage everyone else gets, with no lower rate for domestic work. If you report for work you must be paid for at least 4 hours, so a day's minimum is R120.92. Working a full 45-hour week (about 195 hours a month) comes to roughly R5 894 a month at this rate. If you're paid less than R30.23 an hour, your employer is breaking the law.
Your hourly rate
From 1 March 2026 you must be paid at least R30.23 for every ordinary hour you work. There is no longer a lower 'domestic worker' rate — you're on the same national minimum wage as other workers. This is the floor: your employer can pay more, but never less.
What that is per day and per month
Because you must be paid for at least 4 hours whenever you come in to work, your minimum for a day is R120.92 (4 × R30.23) — even if you're sent home early. Over a full month, a 45-hour week works out to about 195 hours, which is roughly R5 894 at R30.23 an hour. If you work fewer hours, multiply your hours by R30.23 to check your own minimum.
This applies to you, whatever your hours
The minimum wage applies to every domestic worker — full-time, part-time, or once a week. Nobody can pay you below R30.23 an hour by calling you 'part-time' or 'casual'. (The 24-hour-a-month rule only decides whether you must also be registered for UIF and COIDA — it does not lower your minimum wage.)
What to do if you're underpaid
First, work out what you should be earning: your hours times R30.23. If you're getting less, raise it with your employer — they may simply not know the 2026 rate. If that doesn't work, you can report underpayment to the Department of Employment and Labour, which can inspect and order back-pay. Keep your payslips and a record of the hours you work as evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What is my minimum wage as a domestic worker in 2026?
R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. There's no lower rate for domestic work — it's the full national minimum wage.
What is the minimum I should be paid for a day?
R120.92 — because you must be paid for at least 4 hours whenever you report for work, even if sent home early. That's 4 × R30.23.
What's the monthly minimum for full-time work?
There's no fixed monthly figure — it depends on your hours. A full 45-hour week (about 195 hours a month) is roughly R5 894 at R30.23 an hour.
What can I do if I'm paid less than the minimum?
Tell your employer the 2026 rate is R30.23/hour. If they still underpay you, report it to the Department of Employment and Labour, which can inspect and order back-pay. Keep your payslips as evidence.
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.