Durban - Domestic workers are set for a marginal pay increase from December 1, but the unions believe the increase is but a drop in the ocean.
The Department of Labour said the wage adjustment for housekeepers, gardeners, nannies and domestic drivers would increase to R12.42 per hour or R559.09 per week for those working in metros and working more than 27 hours per week.
The monthly rate has been set at R2 422.54, up from R2 230.70.
For those who worked in the major cities - including Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town - but worked less than 27 hours per week, the minimum rate per hour was set at R14.54.
But the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu), which represents 15 000 domestic workers in the country, said the increase meant little to domestic workers.
Read also: Minimum wage for domestic workers increased
Sadsawu general secretary Myrtle Witbooi said domestics who worked short shifts were short-changed.
“If a domestic worker travelling from Khayelitsha to the suburbs works four hours, they might as well stay home because all the money is going towards their travelling expenses. This is why we have been calling for a transport allowance, but still there is nothing. This wage increase means nothing to the domestic sector,” she said.
Witbooi said they were calling for a R3 500 minimum wage for domestic workers.
“Our priority is to fix a decent fee for domestic workers, the people in the rural areas are still earning much much less,” she said.
Witbooi said the union, which charged members a fee of R70 a year, was signing up migrant workers in a bid to educate them that they did not have to work for less money.
She said about 2 000 of their 15 000 members were foreigners.
DAILY NEWS