Unions representing domestic workers have rejected the government’s monthly wage increase.
The Department of Labour announced that the monthly wage of domestic workers would increase by R122.68 from January 1 - bringing the amount from R2 422.54 to R2 545.22.
The South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union’s Gloria Kente said: “Why must we earn less than other sectors? Domestic workers always get a small increase. We want the National Minimum Wage of R3 500. We work hard.”
Kente added that it was good the department recognised domestic workers, but they were not giving the increase workers expected.
“These are things that make domestic workers sick with stress. They are always living under pressure.”
She said the department was also not enforcing compliance from employers.
She added that they would continue fighting for the rights of domestic workers.
“My dream is for domestic workers to be recognised by their employers for the hard work they do,”said Kente.
“They leave their kids at 4.30 in the morning to look after their employer’s kids, but the employer does not always appreciate it.”
For Strand-based domestic worker Dinnerest Pikanif, 30, feeding her family with this wage will be “difficult”.
“It’s not enough, I have two kids who are in school that need so many things, but what can I do?
“I need to work,” she said.
Pikanif said her husband had been retrenched as a security guard, making her the breadwinner. “With this money, you can’t plan anything. It’s my dream to have my own house and send my kids to good schools so they can have a better life.”
The department’s deputy director for employment standards, Mathilda Bergmann, said: “Due to the introduction of the National Minimum Wage which will be implemented on May 1, 2018, the Employment Conditions Commission recommended that the minimum wage levels for domestic workers be increased by the headline CPI, as made available by Stats SA, six weeks prior to December 1, 2017.”
She said that from January 1, the minimum wages for domestic workers who work more than 27 hours a week in Area A (urban areas) were R13.05 hourly, R587.40 weekly (for a 45-hour week) and R2545.22 monthly (for a 45-hour week). Area B (non-urban) areas were R11.89 hourly, R534.91 weekly (for a 45-hour week) and R2317.75 monthly (for a 45-hour week)
“The Inspection and Enforcement Services Branch of the Department, with inspectors stationed at labour centres across the country, enforce all labour legislation. Non-compliance could result in a fine,” said Bergmann.