South Africa has a national minimum wage (NMW) — a legal floor that almost every employer must pay, no matter how small the business. It is reviewed every year and usually goes up on 1 March.
The current rate
From 1 March 2026, the national minimum wage is R30.23 for each ordinary hour worked, up from R28.79 the year before. Importantly, this rate now applies equally to domestic and farm workers — the separate lower rates for those sectors have been phased out.
A few points that trip employers up:
- The NMW is a per-hour figure. It is not a monthly salary.
- It is the amount before deductions like UIF and PAYE.
- Workers on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) have a lower rate of R16.62 an hour.
What R30.23 an hour works out to
Most full-time staff work a 45-hour week (the BCEA maximum for ordinary hours). At R30.23 an hour that is:
- Per week: 45 x R30.23 = R1,360.35
- Per month: roughly 195 hours x R30.23 = R5,894.85
Someone working fewer hours is paid pro-rata, but never below R30.23 for each hour they actually work.
Who is covered
Nearly every worker is covered, including part-time and casual staff, and now domestic and farm workers at the full R30.23. A handful of narrow exclusions exist (for example the SANDF and certain learnership arrangements), but for an ordinary household or small business, assume the NMW applies.
What happens if you underpay
Underpaying the minimum wage is a contravention of the National Minimum Wage Act. An employer can be ordered to pay the shortfall plus a fine — the fine is the greater of twice the underpayment or twice the worker's monthly wage, and it doubles for a repeat offence. A worker can refer the matter to the CCMA at no cost.
Because the NMW changes every March, the safest habit is to check each worker's hourly rate against the new figure at the start of each year and adjust.
Checking your rates
Working out whether a monthly salary clears the minimum wage means converting it back to an hourly rate. WageDesk warns you automatically if a wage you enter falls below the national minimum, so you catch it before it becomes a dispute. You can also use our free overtime calculator to see how the hourly rate drives overtime, Sunday and public-holiday pay.
While you are here, read up on what must be on a payslip and UIF contributions.
Wondering how the rest of your setup measures up? Take the free payroll check - six questions, instant answer.