The National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate is set to increase from R27.58 to R28.79 per hour, from 1 March 2025.
Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth made the announcement on Wednesday.
The increment is in line with the National Minimum Wage Act, introduced by South Africa for implementation, in 2019.
In terms of the policy instrument, this obligates employers to pay workers a minimum amount per hour. The NMW is subject to annual review and increases annually from 1 March.
The National Minimum Wage amendment is enforced by law and binding from 1 March 2025 and violations of the Act are subject to fines.
The National Minimum Wage determination includes vulnerable sectors, including farm workers and domestic workers, whom since 2022, were aligned with the NMW rates.
The wage is the minimum amount of pay that an employer is legally required to remunerate employees for work done. No employee should be paid below the NMW.
Meth emphasised that the 4.2% increase shall apply to all workers.
“The NMW cannot be varied by contract, collective agreement or law; and it is also an unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter hours of work or other conditions of employment in implementing the NMW.”
However, the Minister noted that due to a special dispensation under which they are hired, workers employed on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), are entitled to a minimum wage increase of R15.83 from R15.16 per hour.
“Those who have concluded learnership agreements as contemplated in section 17 of the Skills Development Act, 1998, are entitled to the allowances as determined in the latest government gazette schedule, and these will be published on the department's website, www.labour.gov.za .
“Also. comprehensive tables explaining the adjustments in the Sectoral Determination for areas and rates, work categories for contract cleaning sector, plus those of the wholesale and retail sector are also made available in the departmental website,” Meth explained.
She also noted that the NMW Act applies to all workers and their employers, except members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the South African Secret Service.
“The NMW does not apply to a volunteer who is a person who performs work for another person and does not receive or is not entitled to receive any remuneration for his, or her service. The amount does not include payment of allowances (transport, tools, food, or accommodation) payments in kind (board or lodging), tips, bonuses, and gifts, among others.
"We are committed to the implementation of social protection initiatives and wage increases such as the introduction and implementation of the National Minimum Wage, as this ensures that workers receive their dues and are not exploited for the services they render. Every employer may not pay wages that are below the minimum wage," the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
