Domestic worker minimum wage, hours and overtime (2025/2026)
The current National Minimum Wage for domestic workers, plus the rules on ordinary hours, overtime, Sundays and public holidays.
Domestic workers are covered by the National Minimum Wage Act, with a rate set specifically for the sector. Here's what you must pay and how working time is regulated.
The minimum wage
From 1 March 2025, the National Minimum Wage for domestic workers is R28.79 per ordinary hour. This is a floor, not a target — you can and often should pay more. The rate is gazetted annually, usually effective 1 March.
Ordinary working hours
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum ordinary hours per week | 45 hours |
| Maximum per day (5-day week) | 9 hours |
| Maximum per day (6-day week) | 8 hours |
| Meal interval | 1 hour after 5 continuous hours |
Overtime and premium pay
- Overtime is voluntary and paid at 1.5× the normal wage (or agreed time off in lieu).
- Work on a Sunday is paid at 2× the normal wage.
- Work on a public holiday is paid at 2× (and workers are entitled to paid public holidays).
- Overtime may not exceed the limits set by the BCEA and must be by agreement.
Check your rate automatically
When you set a wage in LabourMate, we compare it against the current minimum for the worker's hours and warn you if it falls short — before it becomes a dispute.
Become compliant in minutes
LabourMate handles contracts, payslips, UIF and leave for your domestic worker — as easy as online banking.