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Domestic workers in South Africa have not had it easy.

Their work often requires keeping multiple homes clean and functioning, as well as their own, sometimes as the sole breadwinner.

Their role in society is not totally acknowledged or appreciated and unfortunately, their wages reflect this.

But, positive changes may be coming for domestic workers in the country, after an announcement from President Cyril Ramaphosa at a Cosatu event yesterday  (October 28).

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit domestic workers in the country have really struggled, and many have been left unemployed.

BusinessTech notes Ramaphosa’s reference to Statistics South Africa’s data, saying that there’s been a 26% decline in employment among domestic workers between the first and second quarters of 2020:

“This means that there were a quarter of a million fewer domestic workers in employment after the first three months of COVID-19. While there has been some recovery, we have not yet returned to pre-COVID-19 levels,” he said.

“It is therefore essential that we accelerate the recovery of our economy and the creation of jobs. It also means that we need to continue to provide support to those most affected by the pandemic.”

Thus, Ramaphosa is encouraging a couple of regulatory changes, including an increased minimum wage in 2022 for South African domestic workers.

In 2021, the national minimum wage for domestic workers was increased to 88% of the national minimum wage.

It is expected to be aligned with the general minimum wage in 2022:

As of March 2021, the minimum wage in South Africa is R21,69 for each working hour. However, domestic workers are currently seen as an exception under the National Minimum Wage Act and are entitled to a minimum wage of R19,09 per hour.

The national minimum wage commission has since recommended that the minimum wage of domestic workers be increased to 100% in 2022.

This would add an extra R450 per month or so to the average domestic worker’s income, as well as the same amount to farmworkers.

Nice of President Ramaphosa to mention this just before South Africa votes. Amazing how these things spring up come election time.

More protections have become available to domestic workers since the beginning of this year, too, as they can qualify for benefits under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.

Domestic workers injured at work can now claim from the Compensation Fund.

These are certainly steps in the right direction, although there is still much to be done in order to protect the rights of domestic workers.

[source:businesstech]