The Department of Employment and Labour has published the latest adjustment to South Africa’s National Minimum Wage (NMW), raising the minimum amount most workers can legally be paid.
Following recommendations from the National Minimum Wage Council at the end of 2025, the minimum wage has increased by 5%, moving from R28.79 to R30.23 for every ordinary hour worked.
Who does the minimum wage increase apply to?
The new rate applies to most workers covered by the National Minimum Wage Act, including domestic workers and farm workers.
However, workers employed under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) remain on a separate minimum wage, which is set at R16.62 per hour.
The Department has stressed that the minimum pay sets a legal floor for pay and that no worker should earn less than the prescribed amount, regardless of sector.
What this means in real terms
For workers earning the minimum amount, the new hourly rate translates to:
- R1 264.85 per week, based on a 45-hour working week
- R5 894.40 per month, based on an average of 4.3 weeks or 195 working hours
These figures are intended to give workers and employers a clearer picture of what the increase means beyond the hourly rate.
The adjustment follows an investigation by the National Minimum Wage Commission, which considered factors such as inflation, the cost of living, wage trends, employment levels and the impact on businesses.
As part of the process, the Department invited written representations from the public, labour groups, employers and other stakeholders before finalising the increase. This consultation forms part of the annual review required under the National Minimum Wage Act.
The Department said the increase is aimed at protecting low-income workers while balancing economic conditions and job sustainability.
