The National Minimum Wage Commission has gazetted an open invitation for input on the national minimum wage adjustments for 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The commission conducts an annual call with stakeholders to gather input, which it then compiles into a recommendation report on possible adjustments to the wage for the next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recommendations will be submitted to the Minister of Employment and Labour later in 2026, in accordance with Section 6(2) of the NMW Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the first comment period for the upcoming changes, which will impact the minimum wages payable to workers in South Africa, including domestic workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will be followed by the council’s annual report and recommendations for the wage adjustment, published later in the year\u2014after which, stakeholders will have another opportunity to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Department of Employment and Labour will take the recommendations and feedback into account before it determines the final adjustment in early 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Minimum Wage is the lowest remuneration rate that employers are legally required to pay their employees for each ordinary hour worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is illegal for employers to pay their employees less than the minimum threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For 2026, the commission recommended a CPI+1.5% increase, which the DEL officially announced as a 5% increase in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This raised the NMW from R28.79 to R30.23 per ordinary hour worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For most workers, the hourly rate translates to a\u00a0weekly rate of R1,264.85\u00a0(based on a 45-hour working week) and a\u00a0monthly rate of R5,894.40\u00a0<\/strong>(based on 4.3 weeks or 195 hours).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a more typical work month of\u00a0160 hours, the minimum would be R4,834, up from R4,606 in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the 2027 hike is still to be determined, the commission has historically committed to an adjustment higher than CPI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With inflation ticking higher and projected to average 4.4% (SARB data), the national minimum wage\u00a0will thus rise above the baseline of R31.56 per hour next year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Minimum Wage Commission is responsible for reviewing and recommending adjustments to the national minimum wage annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also investigates and reports annually to the minister on the impact of the national minimum wage on the economy, collective bargaining, and income differentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, input from stakeholders is vital to the process, as it can have a real-world impact on what the final approved rate will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deadline for submissions is 4 September 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
NMW<\/th> 2026 official<\/th> 2027 Baseline estimate
(based on 4.4%* CPI)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Hourly<\/td> R30.23<\/td> R31.56<\/td><\/tr> Weekly<\/td> R1,265<\/td> R1,320<\/td><\/tr> 160 hour month<\/td> R4,834<\/td> R5,045<\/td><\/tr> 195 hour month<\/td> R5,895<\/td> R6,155<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>