Adjustment of the minimum wages in terms of the National Minimum Wage Act

by Jacques van Wyk, Director; Andre van Heerden, Senior Associate; and Thabisa Yantolo, Candidate Attorney

On 8 February 2021 the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi, also published a Government Gazette[1] providing for the amendment of the national minimum wages, as set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Wage Act 9 of 2018. The amendments become effective on 1 March 2021.

Subject to the below, the national minimums wage shall be –

• R21,69 per ordinary hour worked;
• R21,69 per ordinary hour for farm workers;
• R19,09 per ordinary hour for domestic workers;
• R11,93 per ordinary hour for workers employed on an expanded public works programme.

In addition to the rates set out above, specific minimum wage rates are set for –

• learnership allowances;
• workers in the contract cleaning sector (ie Sectoral Determination 1); and
• workers in the wholesale and retail sector (ie Sectoral Determination 9).

[1] Gazette Number: 44136. Notice No: 76.