Report highlights pay gaps and hardships for domestic workers

Online home services platform SweepSouth says more must be done to ensure domestic workers are not short-changed, after a new report revealed significant pay disparities in the sector.

According to SweepSouth’s newly released 8th Annual Domestic Worker Pay and Working Conditions Report, the average domestic worker earns just over R3,600 a month - nearly R900 short of covering basic living costs.

Despite many domestic workers holding a matric qualification or higher, the report shows most remain trapped in low-paying survival jobs, burdened with long commutes and growing financial strain.

SweepSouth CEO Lourandi Kriel stressed the need for zero tolerance of workplace abuse, alongside fair working hours and wages that keep pace with rising living costs.

“These findings highlight more than hardship, they reveal pressure points in South Africa’s middle class. Our findings showed that just over a third of domestic workers reported losing employers due to affordability issues or to moving overseas.

Domestic worker pay and job losses are a bellwether for household stability. When employers cannot afford help or they move abroad, it signals strain in disposable income and consumer confidence. If we ignore these warning signs, we miss the chance to strengthen the workforce. The solution lies in stronger compliance, targeted upskilling, and enhancing job security within the domestic work sector.”