South Africa’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) is set for another shake-up as the NMW Commission opens consultations for 2026 adjustments.
Every year, the commission calls for public submissions before compiling recommendations for the Minister of Employment and Labour.
These recommendations shape the new wage level, which no employer is legally allowed to pay below. Submissions for 2026 adjustments must be received by the Department of Employment and Labour by 18 September 2025.
What to expect
Currently, the national minimum wage is R28.79 per hour, implemented in March 2025 after a 4.4 percent increase in line with inflation.
This translates to about R4 737 per month for a 38-hour week, or R5 610 per month for a 45-hour week.
The 2026 review is significant because it marks the final year of the commission’s medium-term targets announced in 2023.
Those targets are committed to annual hikes above inflation, ensuring wages grow in real terms rather than losing value. Future increases will be linked to the consumer price index (CPI) and the median wage level in South Africa.
Factors guiding the commission’s recommendations include inflation, cost of living, GDP, collective bargaining, and the ability of employers, particularly small businesses, to absorb wage increases without shedding jobs.
Workers and unions typically welcome higher increases, while employers often warn of rising costs in an already fragile economy.
In 2024, for instance, the wage rose by 9.62 percent, sparking backlash from business groups, while the more modest 4.4 percent increase in 2025 was seen as a compromise.
Given current inflation trends, workers can expect at least a 3 percent rise in 2026, pushing the hourly minimum to around R29.65 or higher.
Do you think the national minimum wage should increase by more than 3 percent next year?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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