On 1 March 2022, we will see the implementation of an increased annual earnings threshold in the amount of ZAR 224 080.48 per annum and an increased national minimum wage in the amount of ZAR 23.19 per hour worked.
Earnings Threshold
The earnings threshold determined by the Minister of Employment and Labour (Minister) in accordance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) will be increased to ZAR 224 080.48 per annum (ZAR 18 673.37 per month). This represents an increase of ZAR 12 484.18 from the previous amount of ZAR 211 596.30, which has been in effect since 1 March 2021.
In terms of the BCEA, employees who earn below the earnings threshold are subject to protection under the provisions which regulate, amongst other things, working hours, overtime, averaging of hours and compressed working weeks, meal intervals and rest periods.
The Labour Relations Act extends protection to employees engaged in atypical forms of employment (namely employees employed in terms of fixed term or part time contracts of employment and employees provided to clients by labour brokers) who earn below the earnings threshold.
For purposes of determining whether an employee earns below the earnings threshold, ‘earnings’ means an employee’s regular annual remuneration before the deduction of any income tax, benefit scheme contributions and similar payments, but excludes payments of allowances such as transportation, tools, food, and payments in kind.
Minimum wage
The national minimum wage determined by the Minister in accordance with the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) will be increased from from ZAR 21.69 to ZAR 23.19 for each ordinary hour worked. This represents an increase of 6.9% from 2021.
As in previous years, the NMWA provides for minimum wages to be applied in respect of several working groups. This notwithstanding, it appears that with effect from 1 March 2022, domestic workers and farmworkers will also be entitled to the national minimum wage of ZAR 23.19. However, exceptions are still made for the following working groups:
- Workers employed on an expanded public works programme are entitled to a minimum wage of ZAR 12.75 per hour; and
- Workers who have concluded learnership agreements contemplated in section 17 of the Skills Development Act, 1998 are entitled to allowances contained in a schedule to the NMWA.
The national minimum wage forms the minimum floor for wages. This means that every worker will be entitled to at least the minimum wage and no employer may pay less than the minimum wage. The minimum wage cannot be varied by contract, collective agreement or law, except to the extent that an employee’s contract of employment, a collective agreement or law provides for a more favourable wage.
The national minimum wage is the amount payable in money for ordinary hours worked by an employee and excludes payments of allowances such as transportation, tools, food, accommodation, payments in kind, bonuses, tips and gifts.
It will be an unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter an employee’s wages, working hours or other conditions of employment in order to implement the new minimum wage.
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