Updated 2026-11-14
From 1 March 2026, South Africa's national minimum wage is R30,23 for each ordinary hour worked. This is the legal wage floor, not a suggested rate. The 2026 amendment is already binding as at 14 November 2026. The Department's 2026 notice sets the rate.
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The national rate applies to each ordinary hour worked. Farm workers and domestic workers are specifically entitled to the same R30,23 hourly minimum. The rate took effect on 1 March 2026.
| Worker or arrangement | Minimum from 1 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Most workers, including farm and domestic workers | R30,23 per ordinary hour worked |
| Workers on an expanded public works programme | R16,62 per hour |
| Workers with a qualifying learnership agreement | The applicable weekly allowance in Schedule 2, rather than the ordinary hourly national rate |
For a simple illustration published by the Department, R30,23 multiplied by 8 hours is R241,84 and multiplied by 40 hours is R1 209,20. These are calculations of hours worked, not a separate universal daily or weekly wage. Read the Department's 2026 minimum-wage flyer.
A sectoral determination or collective agreement can set a higher applicable wage. The 2026 Government Gazette also updates rates for contract cleaning and wholesale and retail work. Check the rule that applies to your job instead of assuming that R30,23 is the final rate for every occupation.
The National Minimum Wage Act applies to workers and their employers. In practice, the Department says the 2026 increase benefits all workers, including farm and domestic workers.
The Department says the wage floor cannot be reduced by a contract, collective agreement or law. An employer also may not unilaterally change your hours or other conditions of employment when implementing the minimum wage. See the Department's 3 February 2026 statement.
Do not treat extras on your payslip as part of the R30,23 hourly wage floor. The Department says the national minimum wage excludes allowances such as transport, tools, food and accommodation, payments in kind such as board or lodging, tips, bonuses and gifts.
If you work for less than four hours on a day, the Department's flyer says you must be paid for four hours' work that day. Keep your contract, roster, timesheet and payslips so you can compare ordinary hours worked with pay.
First, check whether you are covered by a sectoral determination, a bargaining-council agreement, an EPWP arrangement or a qualifying learnership. This helps identify the correct rate.
The Department says it and the CCMA enforce the minimum wage, and that violations may lead to fines enforced by the inspectorate. The Department's flyer specifically directs underpaid workers to the nearest Department of Employment and Labour office or the CCMA.
It is R30,23 for each ordinary hour worked from 1 March 2026. Farm and domestic workers are included at that rate.
No. The Department says tips, bonuses, gifts, payments in kind and allowances such as transport, tools, food and accommodation do not form part of the national minimum wage.
Yes. Domestic workers are entitled to R30,23 per hour from 1 March 2026.
No. Workers employed on an expanded public works programme have a separate minimum wage of R16,62 per hour from 1 March 2026.
The Department says it is an unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter hours of work or other conditions of employment when implementing the national minimum wage.