{"id":786737,"date":"2024-08-15T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=786737"},"modified":"2024-08-16T20:35:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T18:35:13","slug":"what-a-livable-wage-should-be-in-south-africa-according-to-researchers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wealth\/786737\/what-a-livable-wage-should-be-in-south-africa-according-to-researchers\/","title":{"rendered":"What a ‘livable wage’ should be in South Africa – according to researchers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The estimates of a minimum livable monthly income in South Africa for 2024 sits at R15,000 \u2013 significantly higher than the average monthly income of minimum wage workers across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This view was outlined by Professor Ines Meyer from the University of Cape Town, who said that the figure reflects the outcomes of the Living Wage South Africa Network’s (LWSAN’s) quality of life survey of low-earning participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also the chairperson of the LWSAN, Meyer explained that the Living Wage of R15,000 is remuneration that is seen as sufficient for the country\u2019s lowest-earning workers to provide for their families, with enough left over for savings to cover unforeseen emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis [R15,000] affords the opportunity to live a \u2018decent\u2019 life in the sense that it gives people a choice over areas of life that matter to them,\u201d said Meyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dThe LWSAN encourages the public and employers to consider the plight of these earners who struggle to afford the bare essentials the rest of us take for granted,\u201d added LWSAN chairperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effective from 1 March 2024, the minimum wage in South Africa was set at at R27.58 an hour. When calculated at 8 hours per day, the average monthly wage for minimum wage workers (160 hours a month) sits at just over R4,633.44, with a maximum of R5,074.72.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Median earnings data from Stats SA<\/strong><\/a> shows that domestic workers have the lowest median salaries in the country, coming in at around R2,350 a month. This is less than half the national median of R5,417 a month and below the national minimum wage of approximately R4,600.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD) highlights that in most South African households, only one family member works, thus one wage must support, a reductive average of 4 persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on this wage, the PMBEJD has calculated that the minimum family food shortfall is 40.3%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because after securing transport and electricity alone, minimum wage workers are left with R2191,75. If all of this money went to food, then for a family of four, it would provide R547.93 per person per month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Food Poverty Line is R760. “The National Minimum Wage is a poverty wage – it hurts workers,” who ultimately have to make many sacrifices of essentials just to get by, said the PMBEJD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe complain about living month-to-month, but many low-earning families survive from morning-to-morning,\u201d said Meyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UCT professor explained that even relief programmes, like basic free electricity, are restricted and require an applicant to be identified as an indigent, \u201cso, you\u2019d have to remain in poverty just to qualify for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The triple-blow food crisis in South Africa that we can’t ignore<\/a><\/blockquote>