South Africa Labour Press

National Minimum Wage Increases to R30.23 per Hour

The Minister of Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth has announced an increase in South Africa's National Minimum Wage from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour, effective 1 March 2026 — a R1.44 increase affecting all workers including farm workers and domestic workers. The announcement, made on 03 February 2026, also raises the Expanded Public Works Programme minimum from R15.16 to R16.62 per hour. The NMW is enforced by the Department and the CCMA, with violations subject to fines by the inspectorate.

Department of Employment and Labour Distances Itself from Unauthorized Inspection at Steers Outlet in Durban

The South African Department of Employment and Labour issued a public statement on 8 April 2026 distancing itself from a video circulating on social media platform X showing an individual conducting alleged workplace inspection activities at a Steers outlet in Berea, Durban. The Department explicitly declared the depicted conduct unlawful and unauthorised, emphasising that only duly appointed labour inspectors designated under applicable labour legislation may conduct workplace inspections. Employers approached in this manner should immediately report such incidents to law-enforcement agencies as impersonation of an inspector constitutes a criminal offence. The Department reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption among its inspectors.

BCEA Earnings Threshold Rises to R269,900.90

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.