Domestic workers have been identified as one of the most vulnerable groups of workers, where experts have pointed to salaries being insufficient for the cost of living in 2017.<\/p>\n
Current salary legislation for domestic workers sets the minimum wage for this sector at R2,422.54 for those who work more than 27 hours a week in major metropolitan areas.<\/p>\n
This, while the latest research from (Pacsa) shows that a basket of food carrying the minimum requirements for a nutritionally rich diet for a family of five is priced at R3,237.08, alone.<\/p>\n
A recent study by the International Labour Organisation found that close to one million South African women are currently employed as domestic workers around the country, and that South African domestic workers are the least protected around the world.<\/p>\n
Official documents from the Labour Department for 2007 show that domestic workers who worked more than 27 hours a day in major areas earned\u00a0around R1,067 per month<\/strong> at the time – adjusted for inflation, that equates to roughly R1,840 (at an annual inflation rate of 6.2%).<\/p>\n In nominal terms, domestic worker salaries increased at an annual rate of 8.5% since 2007 – but in real terms, domestic worker wages have only seen an increase of just under 3% per year.<\/p>\n