Minimum Wage for Domestic Workers 2011

The domestic workers salary in 2011 is described in the Domestic Workers Act. This act sets out domestic workers wages in South Africa and specifies working conditions such as hours of work, overtime pay, salary increases, deductions, annual and sick leave. It applies to the estimated 1 to 1.5 million workers in the country who work as domestics, gardeners, childminders (including drivers of children) and those who look after the sick, aged or disabled in private homes. The legislation also covers Domestic Workers who work as independent contractors

What are the minimum wage for domestic workers in 2011?

A domestic worker is a gardener, driver or person who looks after children, the aged, sick, frail or disabled in a private household, but not on a farm. This is the view taken in the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002 (Act No. 4 of 2002).

The Domestic Workers’ Act for domestic workers wages 2011

The Domestic Workers’ Act sets out minimum domestics workers wages 2011 and specifies working conditions such as hours of work, overtime pay, salary increases, deductions, annual and sick leave.

This legislation also lists the urban areas (classified as A Areas) where one minimum wage applies. A second minimum wage applies to domestic workers in non-urban areas (B Areas).

To whom does the Domestic Workers Act apply?

To the estimated 1 to 1.5 million workers in the country who work as domestics, gardeners, childminders (including drivers of children) and those who look after the sick, aged or disabled in private homes. The legislation also covers domestic workers who work as independent contractors.

Table 1 Minimum domestic workers wages 2011 is for domestic workers who work more than 27 ordinary hours per week
Area A
Bergrivier Local Municipality, Breederivier Local Municipality, Buffalo City Local Municipality, Cape Agulhas Local Municipality, Cederberg Local Municipality, City of Cape Town, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Drakenstein Local Municipality, Ekurhulen Metropolitan Municipality, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Ethekwini Metropolitan Unicity, Gamagara Local Municipality, George Local Municipality, Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality, Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality, Kgatelopele Local Municipality, Khara Hais Local Municipality, Knysna Local Municipality, Kungwini Local Municipality, Kouga Local Municipality, Langeberg Local Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality, Makana Local Municipality, Mangaung Local Municipality, Matzikama Local Municipality, Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Middelburg Local Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality, Mngeni Local Municipality, Mogale Local Municipality, Mosselbaai Local Municipality, Msunduzi Local Municipality, Mtubatu Local Municipality, Nama Khoi Local Municipality, Nelson Mandela, Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality, Oudtshoorn Local Municipality, Overstrand Local Municipality, Plettenbergbaai Local Municipality, Potchefstroom Local Municipality, Randfontein Local Municipality, Richtersveld Local Municipality, Saldanha Bay Local Municipality, Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality, Stellenbosch Local Municipality, Swartland Local Municipality, Swellendam Local Municipality, Theewaterskloof Local Municipality, Umdoni Local Municipality, uMhlathuze Local Municipality and Witzenberg Local Municipality.

Domestic Workers Wages

Domestic Workers Wages 2011

Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2008 to
30 November 2009 Minimum rates for the period
1 December 2009 to
30 November 2010 Minimum rates for the period
1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011
Hourly Rate (R ) 6.88 Hourly Rate (R ) 7.40 Hourly Rate (R ) 7.72
Weekly Rate (R ) 309.60 Weekly Rate (R ) 333.13 Weekly Rate (R ) 347.79
Monthly Rate (R ) 1340.95 Monthly Rate (R ) 1442.86 Monthly Rate (R ) 1506.35
Wages in Area A will be subjected to a CPIX plus 1% increase for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011. The CPI (excluding Owners Equivalent Rent) six weeks prior to 1 December 2010 has been 3,4%. This means that the domestic workers salary for this period was calculated as follows: CPI (excluding owners’ equivalent rent) plus 1% for Area A = 3,4% + 1% =4.4%.

Domestic Workers Wages 2011

Area B
Areas not mentioned in Area A
Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009 Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010 Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011
Hourly Rate (R ) 5.63 Hourly Rate (R ) 6.11 Hourly Rate (R ) 6.44
Weekly Rate (R ) 253.35 Weekly Rate (R ) 275.14 Weekly Rate (R ) 290.00
Monthly Rate (R ) 1097.40 Monthly Rate (R ) 1191.78 Monthly Rate (R ) 1256.14

Wages in Area B will be subjected to a CPIX plus 2% increase for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011. The CPI (excluding Owners Equivalent Rent) six weeks prior to 1 December 2010 has been 3,4%. This means that the domestic workers salary for this period was calculated as follows: CPI (excluding owners’ equivalent rent) plus 2% for Area B = 3,4% + 2% =5.4%.

Table 2 Minimum domestic workers wages 2011 for domestics who work 27 ordinary hours per week or less
Area A
Bergrivier Local Municipality, Breederivier Local Municipality, Buffalo City Local Municipality, Cape Agulhas Local Municipality, Cederberg Local Municipality, City of Cape Town, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Drakenstein Local Municipality, Ekurhulen Metropolitan Municipality, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Ethekwini Metropolitan Unicity, Gamagara Local Municipality, George Local Municipality, Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality, Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality, Kgatelopele Local Municipality, Khara Hais Local Municipality, Knysna Local Municipality, Kungwini Local Municipality, Kouga Local Municipality, Langeberg Local Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality, Makana Local Municipality, Mangaung Local Municipality, Matzikama Local Municipality, Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Middelburg Local Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality, Mngeni Local Municipality, Mogale Local Municipality, Mosselbaai Local Municipality, Msunduzi Local Municipality, Mtubatu Local Municipality, Nama Khoi Local Municipality, Nelson Mandela, Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality, Oudtshoorn Local Municipality, Overstrand Local Municipality, Plettenbergbaai Local Municipality, Potchefstroom Local Municipality, Randfontein Local Municipality, Richtersveld Local Municipality, Saldanha Bay Local Municipality, Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality, Stellenbosch Local Municipality, Swartland Local Municipality, Swellendam Local Municipality, Theewaterskloof Local Municipality, Umdoni Local Municipality, uMhlathuze Local Municipality and Witzenberg Local Municipality.
Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009 Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010 Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011
Hourly Rate (R ) 8.12 Hourly Rate (R ) 8.74 Hourly Rate (R ) 9.12
Weekly Rate (R ) 219.24 Weekly Rate (R ) 235.90 Weekly Rate (R ) 246.30
Monthly Rate (R ) 949.97 Monthly Rate (R ) 1022.17 Monthly Rate (R ) 1067.15
Wages in Area A will be subjected to a CPIX plus 1% increase for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011. The CPI (excluding Owners Equivalent Rent) six weeks prior to 1 December 2010 has been 3,4%. This means that the domestic workers salary for this period was calculated as follows: CPI (excluding owners’ equivalent rent) plus 1% for Area A = 3,4% + 1% =4.4%.

Area B
Areas not mentioned in Area A
Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009 Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010 Minimum rates for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011
Hourly Rate (R ) 6.65 Hourly Rate (R ) 7.22 Hourly Rate (R ) 7.60
Weekly Rate (R ) 179.55 Weekly Rate (R ) 194.99 Weekly Rate (R ) 205.52
Monthly Rate (R ) 778.00 Monthly Rate (R ) 844.90 Monthly Rate (R ) 890.52
Wages in Area B will be subjected to a CPIX plus 2% increase for the period 1 December 2010 to 30 November 2011. The CPI (excluding Owners Equivalent Rent) six weeks prior to 1 December 2010 has been 3,4%. This means that the domestic workers salary for this period was calculated as follows: CPI (excluding owners’ equivalent rent) plus 2% for Area B = 3,4% + 2% =5.4%.

Please contact Bernard Reisner on bernard@capelabour.co.za for questions about the minimum wage for domestic workers in 2011

W.Tel no.: 021 423 3959
Fax: 021 423 2105
Cell: 082 433 8714

Download our Domestic Worker Contract