How to hire a domestic worker legally in South Africa
Updated 20 August 2026
If you employ a domestic worker in South Africa, you are usually the employer — not Care4SA. From 1 March 2026 the National Minimum Wage for domestic workers is R30,23 per ordinary hour. Register for UIF where the law requires it, put hours and pay in writing, and check the Department of Employment and Labour for the current rules.
What the law sets (not Care4SA)
- Pay: at least R30,23 per ordinary hour from 1 March 2026 for domestic workers, the same national floor as other workers under the National Minimum Wage Act.
- Written terms: Sectoral Determination 7 (domestic worker sector) still covers hours, overtime, leave, notice and written particulars. Put the job in writing before day one.
- UIF: domestic workers are covered by unemployment insurance. If they work more than 24 hours a month, you typically register as an employer and submit contributions via uFiling.
- COIDA: domestic workers may also fall under compensation for occupational injuries. Confirm current cover on labour.gov.za.
What Care4SA does
You post a job in ZAR. Workers apply. You message in-app during the Cape Town launch. We are not the employer, we do not run payroll, and we do not file UIF or SARS on your behalf.
Marketplace homes often pay more than the legal floor. See the Cape Town rate guide for informal typical rates — still never below the minimum wage.
Common questions
- Do domestic workers need UIF?
- If you employ a domestic worker for more than 24 hours a month, you generally must register as an employer with UIF and pay contributions. Use uFiling and confirm the current rules with the Department of Employment and Labour. Care4SA does not register you or file UIF.
- How do I hire a domestic worker legally in South Africa?
- Pay at least the National Minimum Wage, agree written terms (hours, duties, pay, live-in if relevant), register for UIF when required, and follow Sectoral Determination 7 on hours, leave and notice. Care4SA is a marketplace: we are not the employer and we do not run payroll.
- What is the minimum wage for a domestic worker in 2026?
- From 1 March 2026 it is R30,23 per ordinary hour under the National Minimum Wage Act (Government Gazette 54075). Always check labour.gov.za — the amount is reviewed annually.
Sources: Government NMW statement, Government Gazette 54075. This page is a starting point, not legal advice.