BCEA Earnings Threshold Rises to R269,900.90
Summary
The South African Department of Employment and Labour has announced the annual earnings threshold under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) will increase from R261,748.45 to R269,900.90 per annum, effective 1 May 2026. Employees earning above this threshold are excluded from sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17(2), and 18(3) of the BCEA, which cover ordinary hours of work, overtime, meal intervals, daily and weekly rest periods, Sunday pay, night work, and public holidays. The previous year (2025) earnings threshold was R261,748.45.
South African employers should audit their workforce earnings to identify employees who now exceed the new R269,900.90 threshold. Those employees are no longer automatically covered by BCEA sections on working hours, overtime, meal intervals, and rest periods — employment contracts may need updating to reflect this change when the new threshold takes effect on 1 May 2026.
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GovPing monitors South Africa Labour Press for new labor & employment regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 3 changes logged to date.
What changed
The BCEA earnings threshold has been increased from R261,748.45 to R269,900.90 per annum, effective 1 May 2026. This annual adjustment determines which employees are excluded from core BCEA protections relating to working hours, overtime, meal intervals, rest periods, Sunday and night work, and public holiday pay. The increase means that additional employees earning above the new threshold will lose automatic BCEA protections under sections 9-18. Employers should review employee earnings against the new threshold to determine which workers are now excluded from these provisions. Workers earning above the threshold may need adjusted contractual terms for working hours and conditions.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Department of Employment and Labour sets a new threshold in the protection of employees 21 April 2026
The Department of Employment and Labour has announced the new earnings determination that applies in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).
Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth revealed that in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act all employees earning in excess of R269 900.90 per annum are excluded from sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 172), and 18(3) of this Act will from effect from 1 May 2026.
These Sections of the BCEA relates to ordinary hours of work, overtime, length of working hours, averaging of hours of work, determination of hours of work by Minister, meal intervals, daily and weekly rest period, pay for work on Sundays and night work and public holiday.
In simple terms this means that workers who earn above the earnings threshold lose automatic protections under the BCEA. The previous year (2025) earnings threshold was R261,748.45.
The purpose of BCEA is to advance economic development and social justice by giving effect to and regulate the right to fair labour practices, establishing and enforcing basic conditions of employment, regulating the variation of basic conditions of employment, and fulfil obligations of the International Labour Organization.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za ******
-ENDS-
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
No No No No © 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour
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