by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THIRTY-NINE (39) percent percent of domestic workers in South Africa are still earning below the National Minimum Wage, with median monthly earnings of R3 635 (US$207).
This falls short of the R4 500 needed for basic living expenses.
These are among the stark findings of Sweepsouth’s eighth Annual Report on Domestic Worker Pay and Working Conditions. It is based on responses from 5 039 domestic workers nationwide.
Key findings from the 2025 report include that 82 percent are the main earners in their households. Some 58 percent support four or more dependents.
Of those polled, 86 percent want to further their education.
Thirty-three are in debt, with 35 percent of those describing repayment as hopeless.
Some 20 people have experienced workplace abuse and 16 percent report declining mental health.
“These findings paint a stark picture of economic vulnerability. Even those working full-time, sometimes seven days a week, are trapped in a deficit between income and basic survival costs,” said Lourandi Kriel, CEO of Sweepsouth.
Looking forward, the official said the findings of the 2025 report indicated that unless wage policies, labour protections and social investments improve, the gap between what domestic workers earn and what they need to live would continue to widen.
“The consequences will not only be felt by workers themselves but also by the families and communities that depend on them,’’ Kriel concluded.
– CAJ News