Some of the other findings in the SweepSouth report have revealed that, despite being national legislature, 62% of domestic workers are not registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and 27% have no idea whether they’re registered or not.
61% of domestic workers do not receive a payslip every month, and only 15% receive paid leave.
85% do not have pension, 98% do not have a funeral plan and only 2% have any sort of medical aid.
Only 14% are able to save any money per month.
R20 per hour is not a living wage for most South Africans, let alone R15. SweepSouth itself, for example, pays domestic workers roughly R33 per hour. They have UIF, they receive a contract and they all have accidental death and disability cover.
Aisha Pandor, CEO of SweepSouth, said;
“It is essential that employers learn and understand their legal obligations to the domestic workers they employ.”
And that, essentially, is where we begin to fix the greater problem. Follow the law, understand your legal obligations, empower your employees and, wherever possible, give a little extra.