Domestic and farm workers get pay rise
AN INCREASE to the national minimum wage for domestic workers and farm workers was gazzetted recently.
This came after Thulas Nxesi, Employment and Labour Minister, announced the 9.6% increase.
It means domestic workers will now have to be paid R25.42 (up from R23.19), which translates to R203.36 a day for eight hours of work. This totals R4067.20 per month.
According to the February 2023 household affordability index released by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD), the average cost of the household food basket is R4 928.34.
On a month-to-month basis, the average cost of the household food basket increased by R10.91 (0.2%), from R4 917.42 in January to R4 928.34 last month.
On a year-on-year basis, the average cost of the household food basket increased by R572.64 (13.1%), from R4 355.70 in February 2022 to R4 928.34 in February this year.
Mervyn Abrahams, PMBEJD programme co-ordinator, said the wage increase was welcomed for domestic workers.
“The increase is above the consumer price index, which is good for workers. Wages have traditionally been quite low in South Africa. It is important to remember that inflation impacts lower paid workers a lot more than higher paid workers.
“We will need more of these types of increases for a number of years in order to resolve the poverty crisis in this country.”
Abrahams said households were going through an affordability crisis.
“Incomes have not stabilised since the onset of Covid. Households also have to deal with high interest rates from the Reserve Bank and petrol increases, among other things.
“So yes, there is a lot of pressure that people are under. However, there is no evidence that suggests that an increase of this nature leads to corresponding levels of unemployment, particularly in the general worker’s economy. Domestic workers are not the only ones getting a minimum wage.”
Readers commented on POST’s Facebook page:
◆ Akeel Omar: “People get excited to know that they are going to get a pay raise, but completely ignore the fact that the prices of everything keeps going up. The trend of pockets being emptied is also overlooked by the ignorant.”
◆ Pule Mapoza: “Good people, may we please stop being negative. A small increase is better than nothing. It might be little, but one needs to appreciate as little as it is. Complaining or being negative won’t put bread on the table.”
◆ Ravash Singh: “I don’t see how this is enforced. A lot of people are employing foreign domestic workers and paying them peanuts. People are afraid of registering their workers.”
◆ Laura Lona: “How long does it take to clean your house? Many people will now start doing chores themselves if they can’t manage the new wage.”
◆ Zainab Pillay: “Prepare to see all those who complain about corruption and our country being lawless behave in that manner regarding this (increase), because unfortunately in their eyes, helpers have no rights and don’t deserve what’s rightfully theirs for a day’s work.”
◆ Vee Dilrajh: “Domestic work is now a career. Some businesses are not even complying with minimum wage.”
◆ Lenny Naidoo: “Most companies (are) not even paying their workers that rate, let alone the weekend hours.”
◆ Rittesh Debidheen: “Increase in unemployment, it does seem like a lot, but due to inflation and cost of living, it’s peanuts. South Africa is doomed.”
◆ Sahika Enver: “If you don’t want to pay the increase, then it’s very simple: clean your own dirty house.”
◆ Sedick Gydien: “It’s not a lot of money, but may just mean that many will do their own housework, resulting in even more unemployment unfortunately.”