Paying a Domestic Worker Legally in 2026
Domestic workers — housekeepers, nannies, gardeners, cooks, and drivers employed in private households — have been formally protected since Sectoral Determination 7 of 2002, which first set minimum wages and conditions for the sector. The wage side of SD7 has since been overtaken by the National Minimum Wage Act: domestic workers started at 75% of the NMW in 2019, moved to 88% in 2021, and reached full parity on 1 March 2022. From 1 March 2026 the minimum is R30.23 per hour, the same rate as every other worker in the country. SD7 still governs working conditions: a 45-hour ordinary week, overtime at 1.5 times the wage, double pay on Sundays and public holidays, and a standby allowance for live-in workers called on at night.
The money adds up straightforwardly. A full-time worker on 45 hours a week must earn at least R1,360.35 per week, or about R5,894.85 per month. A char who comes in one 8-hour day a week costs a minimum of R241.84 per day — and if you only need someone for two hours, the 4-hour rule still applies, so the minimum payment for any day worked is R120.92. For live-in workers, note that the NMW Act excludes payments in kind: free accommodation and meals are welcome benefits, but they cannot be counted toward the R30.23 hourly minimum, which must be paid in money.
Employing someone in your home also makes you an employer in law, with three registration duties. First, UIF: if your worker works 24 hours or more per month you must register on uFiling and pay 2% of the wage — 1% deducted from the worker, 1% from you. On R5,894.85 that is R58.95 each, R117.90 in total. Second, COIDA: the Constitutional Court held in Mahlangu v Minister of Labour (November 2020) that excluding domestic workers from injury-on-duty compensation was unconstitutional, so household employers must now register with the Compensation Fund and file an annual return of earnings. Third, the paperwork: section 33 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act requires written particulars of pay at every payday — in practice, a payslip showing hours, the wage, UIF deducted, and the net amount paid.
The payslip duty is the one most household employers miss, and it matters beyond compliance: your worker needs payslips to claim UIF benefits, open bank accounts, or rent a home. Our free payslip generator produces a compliant payslip in under a minute, and our guide to domestic worker payslips walks through exactly what must appear on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage for domestic workers in 2026?
R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026 — the same as the national minimum wage for all workers. Domestic workers reached full NMW parity on 1 March 2022; before that they were on a lower tier (88% of the NMW in 2021). At 45 hours per week the minimum comes to about R5,894.85 per month, and a worker who works any part of a day must be paid for at least 4 hours (R120.92).
Do I have to register my domestic worker for UIF?
Yes. Any household employing a domestic worker for 24 hours or more per month must register as an employer with the UIF and pay contributions of 2% of the wage — 1% deducted from the worker and 1% paid by the employer. Registration and monthly declarations are done free on uFiling. At a wage of R5,894.85, that is R58.95 from each side, about R117.90 in total per month.
Must I register my domestic worker for COIDA?
Yes. In Mahlangu v Minister of Labour (November 2020) the Constitutional Court ruled that excluding domestic workers from the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act was unconstitutional, with retrospective effect. Since 2021, household employers must register with the Compensation Fund and pay an annual assessment so the worker is covered for injuries sustained at work.
Do I need to give my domestic worker a payslip?
Yes. Section 33 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act requires written particulars of pay at every payday: employer name and address, worker name and occupation, period paid, wage, overtime, any deductions (like UIF), and the actual amount paid. A simple generated payslip satisfies this requirement.
Can I deduct accommodation or food from a live-in domestic worker's wage?
Not in a way that undermines the minimum wage. The National Minimum Wage Act excludes payments in kind — board, lodging, food — from the calculation of the wage, so the R30.23 hourly minimum must be met in money. Any other deduction needs the worker's written agreement and must comply with section 34 of the BCEA.
How many hours can a domestic worker work per week?
Ordinary hours are capped at 45 per week under Sectoral Determination 7 — at most 9 hours a day for a 5-day week or 8 hours a day over more than 5 days. Overtime is voluntary, paid at 1.5 times the wage, and Sunday or public holiday work at double. A live-in worker on standby at night must also be paid a standby allowance.
Meet your BCEA section 33 duty — generate a payslip for your domestic worker now.
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