Paying a domestic worker incorrectly is one of the most common legal mistakes South African households make — often without realising it. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the Sectoral Determination 7 for domestic workers set out clear rules. Here is everything you need to know.
Who counts as a domestic worker?
A domestic worker is anyone employed in a private home to perform work including:
- Cleaning, washing, and ironing
- Cooking and childcare
- Gardening (if working primarily in one household)
- Caring for an elderly or disabled person
- Driving a private household vehicle
Part-time workers and live-in workers are both covered by Sectoral Determination 7.
Minimum wages (2025/2026)
The National Minimum Wage applies to domestic workers. As of March 2025:
| Area | Minimum per hour |
|---|---|
| Urban areas | R27.58 |
| Farm and domestic | R27.58 (same rate now) |
Always check the Department of Labour website for the latest figures — it updates annually.
UIF: you must register and contribute
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is not optional. If your domestic worker works more than 24 hours per month, you are legally required to:
- Register your worker with the UIF within 7 days of employment starting
- Deduct 1% of their gross wage from their pay
- Contribute a matching 1% yourself as the employer
- Pay the combined 2% to the UIF monthly (via SARS eFiling)
A domestic worker who is never registered cannot claim UIF benefits when unemployed or sick. That is a serious harm you can avoid by spending 20 minutes registering online.
Payslips are compulsory
The BCEA requires every employer to issue a written payslip on every payday. Your payslip must show:
- Employer name and address
- Worker's name and occupation
- Period of the payment (e.g. June 2026)
- Gross wage
- UIF deduction
- Any other deductions (with a reason)
- Net wage paid
A handwritten payslip on paper is legal. The key is that it exists and is handed over.
Annual leave
Domestic workers are entitled to 21 consecutive days of annual leave per year (or by agreement, 1 day for every 17 days worked). Leave must be taken within 6 months of the end of the leave cycle. You cannot pay out annual leave instead of giving time off — except on termination of employment.
Sick leave
Over a 36-month cycle, a domestic worker is entitled to the number of days they would normally work in 6 weeks. For a 5-day-per-week worker, that is 30 days of paid sick leave over 3 years.
During the first 6 months of employment, sick leave is 1 day per 26 days worked.
Notice periods
| Length of employment | Notice required |
|---|---|
| 6 months or less | 1 week |
| 6 months to 1 year | 2 weeks |
| More than 1 year | 4 weeks |
Notice must be given in writing. You cannot dismiss a domestic worker without a valid reason and a fair process — even after 1 month of employment.
What happens if you don't comply?
The Department of Employment and Labour actively conducts household inspections. Penalties for non-compliance include:
- Fines of up to R10,000 per violation
- Liability for back-pay of minimum wages owed
- Back-payment of unregistered UIF contributions plus penalties
Beyond legal risk, non-compliance leaves your worker without a safety net they are legally entitled to.
The easier way
Tracking payslips, UIF, leave, and compliance manually across a busy household is genuinely difficult. HomeStaff SA automates all of this — generating BCEA-compliant payslips, calculating UIF contributions, tracking leave balances, and sending reminders before deadlines.