South Africa's National Minimum Wage (NMW) was introduced in 2019 under the National Minimum Wage Act, No. 9 of 2018 — a landmark piece of legislation that for the first time set a legally enforceable pay floor for virtually every worker in the country. Since then the rate has been reviewed and increased every year. For the period starting 1 March 2026, the rate stands at R30.23 per ordinary hour.
What Does R30.23 Per Hour Mean in Monthly Terms?
Because the NMW is set per hour, the monthly equivalent depends entirely on how many hours you work each week. There is no fixed minimum monthly salary in South African law — only the hourly floor. The table below shows what the NMW means for the most common work patterns:
| Work pattern | Hours/week | Daily minimum | Weekly minimum | Monthly minimum (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard full-time (5-day, 9hr day) | 45 hrs | R271.89 | R1,360.35 | R5,893.60 |
| Standard full-time (5-day, 8hr day) | 40 hrs | R241.84 | R1,209.20 | R5,239.87 |
| Part-time (5-day, 4hr day) | 20 hrs | R120.92 | R604.60 | R2,619.93 |
| 6-day week (8hr day + 5hr Sat) | 45 hrs | R241.84 | R1,360.35 | R5,893.60 |
Monthly figures are calculated as weekly minimum × 4.333 (the average number of weeks per month). These are gross amounts before deductions — UIF of 1% and PAYE (if applicable) are deducted from the gross.
Example (45-hour week): R30.23 × 45 × 4.333 = R5,893.60
Minimum Wage by Worker Category — 2026
The NMW Act recognises that some worker categories require different treatment. Here is the full breakdown for 2026:
| Worker category | Hourly rate (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard workers (all sectors) | R30.23/hour | Applies to all employees not in a specific category below |
| Domestic workers | R30.23/hour | Aligned to NMW since 2022; Sectoral Determination 7 still applies for other conditions |
| Farm workers | R30.23/hour | Aligned to NMW; Sectoral Determination 13 covers other conditions |
| Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) | R16.62/hour | Lower rate permitted under NMW Act; applies to government EPWP employment only |
| Learnership workers (first 12 months) | Variable | NMW Act allows reduced rates for workers in registered learnerships and internships; consult SETA schedule |
Domestic and farm workers now earn the full NMW. Prior to 2022, these categories had separate — and lower — rates. That gap has been closed. If you employ a domestic worker or run a farm operation, you must pay at least R30.23 per hour regardless of whether you have a written contract.
How the Minimum Wage Has Increased Year on Year
The NMW has grown significantly since its introduction. The table below shows the annual progression:
| Year | NMW per hour | Effective date | Year-on-year increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | R20.00 | 1 Jan 2019 | — |
| 2020 | R20.76 | 1 Mar 2020 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | R21.69 | 1 Mar 2021 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | R23.19 | 1 Mar 2022 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | R25.42 | 1 Mar 2023 | +9.6% |
| 2024 | R27.58 | 1 Mar 2024 | +8.5% |
| 2025 | R28.79 | 1 Mar 2025 | +4.4% |
| 2026 | R30.23 | 1 Mar 2026 | +5.0% |
Since 2019 the NMW has increased by just over 51%, reflecting both inflation adjustments and a deliberate policy to lift the earnings floor for low-income workers. The National Minimum Wage Commission publishes its recommendation annually, and the Minister of Employment and Labour gazetted the R30.23 rate for 2026 following that process.
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Open Minimum Wage Calculator →What the NMW Covers — and What It Does Not
The NMW covers all ordinary hours
The R30.23 rate applies to every ordinary hour you work. An employer cannot average out the rate across a week or pay below R30.23 for some hours to make up for higher rates elsewhere. Every single hour of ordinary work must attract at least the NMW.
Overtime above the NMW
Overtime must still be paid at the BCEA rates on top of the NMW base. At minimum wage, your 1.5× weekday overtime rate is R30.23 × 1.5 = R45.35 per hour, and your 2× Sunday rate is R30.23 × 2 = R60.46 per hour. An employer who pays NMW for all hours including overtime is in breach of both the NMW Act and the BCEA.
Deductions from minimum wage
Employers may only deduct from a minimum wage worker's pay amounts that are legally permitted — PAYE, UIF, pension contributions and court-ordered deductions. They may also deduct up to 10% of the wage for accommodation provided to the worker. What they may not do is use deductions to bring the effective hourly rate below R30.23.
Who is excluded from the NMW?
The NMW Act excludes independent contractors — only employees are covered. If you work as a genuine independent contractor (i.e. not employed under a contract of service), the NMW does not apply to your hourly rate. However, if your employer misclassifies you as a contractor when you are in practice an employee, you retain all NMW and BCEA rights. The Contractor vs Employee Calculator can help you assess your classification.
If Your Employer Pays Below Minimum Wage
Underpayment of the NMW is a criminal offence under the National Minimum Wage Act. As an affected worker, you have several options:
- Raise it with your employer first. In many cases, underpayment is a payroll error rather than deliberate non-compliance. A written request citing the current NMW and the shortfall is often enough to resolve it.
- Report to the Department of Employment and Labour. Labour inspectors have the power to enter workplaces, demand payroll records and issue compliance orders. Complaints can be lodged at any DOL regional office or online via the Department's website.
- Refer a dispute to the CCMA. Under Section 73A of the BCEA, an employee may refer a minimum wage dispute to the CCMA for arbitration. The process is free of charge and the CCMA can order the employer to pay the underpaid amount plus a penalty of up to twice the amount of the shortfall.
Keep records. If you believe you are being underpaid, start keeping copies of your payslips and a log of your hours worked. This evidence will be essential for any CCMA or DOL complaint. An employer who does not provide payslips is also in breach of Section 33 of the BCEA.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Minimum Wage
Is there a minimum wage for casual or part-time workers?
Yes — the R30.23 per hour NMW applies to all workers regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time, casual or temporary. There is no reduced rate for fewer hours, and there is no "casual worker" exemption under the NMW Act.
Does the minimum wage apply to workers paid on commission?
If you are an employee who earns partly or wholly on commission, your total remuneration for any pay period must average out to at least R30.23 per hour for all hours worked. If commission earnings in a particular month fall short, your employer must top up to the NMW floor.
Can a small business be exempt from paying minimum wage?
No. There is no small business or turnover-based exemption under the NMW Act. All employers — regardless of business size, sector, profitability or legal form — must pay at least R30.23 per hour. The only employer exemption that exists is for employers running registered government EPWP programmes, who may pay R16.62 per hour for those specific workers.
When will the minimum wage increase again?
The NMW is reviewed annually by the National Minimum Wage Commission, with the new rate typically announced by December and gazetted to take effect on 1 March of the following year. The 2027 rate will be announced in late 2026 following the Commission's report. Monitor the Department of Employment and Labour website for the official announcement, or bookmark this page — we update it annually.
My salary is above minimum wage — does any of this affect me?
The NMW sets a floor, not a ceiling. If you earn above R30.23 per hour, the NMW does not constrain what you earn — but it does affect your overtime calculations. Regardless of your salary level, the BCEA overtime provisions (1.5× and 2× rates) apply if you earn below the BCEA earnings threshold of R269,600.90 per year.
Related Tools and Articles
- Minimum Wage Calculator — calculate your exact daily, weekly and monthly minimum earnings and check whether your rate is compliant.
- Domestic Worker Pay Calculator — full pay, UIF, leave and PAYE calculation for domestic workers under Sectoral Determination 7.
- Overtime Calculator — calculate overtime pay at 1.5× and 2× rates based on the minimum wage or your own salary.
- PAYE Calculator — check whether a minimum wage earner pays income tax and calculate their exact take-home pay.
- Overtime Rules in South Africa — how 1.5× and 2× overtime rates interact with minimum wage earnings.