What Mr Zuma did not tell workers is that there is a process to follow and the public in general was in the dark when 01st May 2018 arrived and some employers even implemented the new wages.

The truth is that on 29 May 2018 the new National Minimum Wage Bill was passed by the National Assembly and now it must first be accepted by the Council of Provinces and only then can the President sign the Bill into legislation.

The Bill makes provision for the introduction of a minimum wage of R20 per hour which is due to come into effect on 1 May 2018.  There are a few exceptions to the new minimum wage for domestic workers, which will be 75% of R20 per hour, i.e. R15 per hour.

No major impact

As I stated in an earlier article on this topic it is a fact that this New Minimum Wage for domestic workers is not going to have a major impact on the industry since 99% of our subscribers to the Edomestix mobile App already pay more than the prescribed minimum:

• According to the prescribed rules, a domestic helper who works five days a week, eight hours a day should earn R 2598 per month, which equates to R120 per day (the prescribed minimum wage).
• However, a day worker or “casual” as many people refer to the periodic workers who work only specific days per week currently earns in the region of R160 to R200 per day and even more if you add the taxi fare.

New minimum wage for domestic workers

In my view, then, the New Minimum Wage for domestic workers should not be viewed as a “threat” to an employer’s ability to afford to employ a domestic worker.

Having said that, there are many who believe that even R20 per hour is not a living wage and some employers who choose to pay that, or even more.  This obviously hangs on the question of affordability and at this point, the minimum requirement stands R15 per hour.

Employers must prove compliance

However, the onus remains on the Employer to prove that he/she at least complies with the new minimum wage for domestic workers

The only manner in which such proof can be submitted is;

• a contract of employment to show what the agreed working hours are,
• a timesheet to prove the hours worked,
• record of leave taken and
• a payslip to prove that the required rate of pay is being paid.

Currently, only the Edomestix system provides this service AND represents you as the Employer when it comes to Department of Labour inspections and CCMA cases.

You are welcome to contact us on 010 110 8660 or visit our website www.edomestix.co.za and download our App from PlayStore or iStore.  See everything you can expect for a monthly subscription of just R97.25 on https://www.edomestix.co.za/cp/30220/mobile-app-

DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO

New minimum wage for domestic workers 2018 by Albert van der Merwe

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