Every domestic worker in South Africa must be paid at least R30.23 for each ordinary hour worked. Full time (45 hours a week), that's about R5,895 a month. Domestic workers get the same national minimum wage as every other worker. It went up 5% from last year's R28.79.
Who the minimum wage covers
The national minimum wage applies to anyone you employ to work in or around your home, whether they live in or out, work full time or a single day a week. That includes:
- Housekeepers, cleaners and nannies (including night nannies)
- Caregivers looking after an elderly, sick or disabled family member
- Gardeners
- Drivers who take your children to and from school
It also applies to staff placed through an agency. The rate is the same across the country. There is no longer a lower rate for domestic workers or for different areas.
Turning the hourly rate into a monthly wage
Most families pay monthly, so you need to convert. The standard method is hours per week × R30.23 × 52 ÷ 12. That spreads the 52 weeks of the year evenly over 12 months.
| Typical arrangement | Hours / week | Minimum / week | Minimum / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day a week (8 hrs) | 8 | R241.84 | R1,047.97 |
| 2 days a week (8 hrs) | 16 | R483.68 | R2,095.95 |
| 3 days a week (8 hrs) | 24 | R725.52 | R3,143.92 |
| 5 days a week (8 hrs) | 40 | R1,209.20 | R5,239.87 |
| 5 days a week (9 hrs), full time | 45 | R1,360.35 | R5,894.85 |
Figures are before UIF. Hours exclude unpaid lunch breaks.
Work out your minimum
Enter the days and hours your employee works. Ordinary hours only, no overtime.
The 4-hour rule
If someone comes in for less than four hours on a day, you must still pay for four hours. In 2026 that means no working day can be paid less than R120.92. This matters for short ironing or cleaning visits.
Overtime, Sundays and public holidays
Ordinary hours are capped at 45 a week, and at 9 hours a day for someone working five days a week or fewer (8 hours a day if they work more than five days). Anything beyond that is overtime, and paid at a higher rate.
| When they work | Rate | 2026 minimum / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | Normal rate | R30.23 |
| Overtime | 1.5 × normal rate | R45.35 |
| Sunday, if Sunday is a normal workday | 1.5 × normal rate | R45.35 |
| Sunday, if they don't usually work Sundays | 2 × normal rate | R60.46 |
| Public holiday worked | 2 × normal rate | R60.46 |
Overtime must be agreed with your employee. It's limited to 15 hours a week, and a working day, overtime included, can't go beyond 12 hours. If a public holiday falls on a normal workday and your employee stays home, you still pay their normal wage for that day.
What doesn't count towards the minimum
The R30.23 must be paid in money for the hours worked. You can't make up the difference with extras. These don't count towards the minimum wage:
- Meals, groceries or accommodation you provide
- Transport money or other allowances
- Tips, bonuses (including a December bonus) and gifts
These are all good to give. They just have to be on top of the minimum, not part of it.
What you may and may not deduct
Allowed, with written agreement
- Accommodation, up to 10% of the wage, only if the room is weatherproof, lockable and has a toilet and shower or bath (or access to one)
- A loan or advance, at most 10% of the wage each pay
- The employee's 1% UIF contribution
Not allowed
- Breakages or damage, such as a broken plate or a scorched shirt
- Meals eaten during working hours
- Uniforms, work clothes or equipment
UIF comes on top
If your employee works more than 24 hours a month, you must register them for UIF. You pay 1% of their wage and deduct another 1% from their pay, then pay both to the UIF every month. On a full-time minimum wage of R5,894.85, that's R58.95 each.
You'll also need COIDA cover for domestic workers, which protects you and them if they're injured at work. Our Payroll, UIF & COIDA service handles both registrations, the monthly payments and payslips from R165 a month.
Paying above the minimum
The minimum wage is the legal floor, and many families pay more. Experience, first aid training, looking after a baby or several children, cooking, driving and long service all justify a higher wage. A good wage also helps you keep a trusted employee.
See typical rates by role and experience in our Domestic Worker Salary Guide.
Already paying more than R30.23? Good. You don't have to give a raise because the minimum went up, but you may not cut an agreed rate to bring it closer to the minimum.
Your employer checklist
- Every ordinary hour is paid at R30.23 or more
- No working day is paid for less than 4 hours
- Overtime, Sundays and public holidays are paid at the higher rates
- Your employee has a signed contract that sets out their hours and wage
- You give a payslip every pay day and keep copies for three years
- They're registered for UIF and COIDA, and UIF is paid every month
Frequently asked questions
When does the minimum wage go up next?
The national minimum wage is usually reviewed each year and the new rate takes effect on 1 March. We'll update this guide when the 2027 rate is announced.
Is there a different rate for part-time or live-in workers?
No. The same R30.23 per hour applies whether someone works one day a week or full time, and whether they live in or out. Live-in workers may have an accommodation deduction of up to 10% if the room meets the legal standards.
What happens if I pay less than the minimum wage?
Your employee can lodge a complaint with the Department of Employment and Labour. A labour inspector can order you to pay the shortfall as back pay, and unpaid amounts can go to the CCMA or the Labour Court.
Does the minimum wage apply to a gardener who comes once a month?
Yes. Pay at least R30.23 an hour, and at least 4 hours for the visit (R120.92). They aren't UIF-eligible unless they work more than 24 hours a month.
Employing someone? We'll keep you compliant.
We register your employee for UIF and COIDA, make the monthly payments and prepare payslips. Or let us find you a vetted nanny, housekeeper or caregiver.
Sources: National Minimum Wage Amendment 2026 (Government Gazette 54075, February 2026); Sectoral Determination 7: Domestic Worker Sector; Unemployment Insurance Act.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rates are correct as of the update date above.