South Africa minimum wage 2026
The legal minimum wage in South Africa, in ZAR, with its history and the law behind it.
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0.
Applies to: national.
Effective 1 Mar 2026. Set by National Minimum Wage Act 9 of 2018, amendment of Schedule 1, Government Notice R.7083, Government Gazette 54075 of 3 February 2026.
South Africa has a single national minimum wage per ordinary hour; farm and domestic workers get the same rate, while Expanded Public Works Programme workers have a lower rate of R16.62.
Minimum wage history, South Africa
Hourly rate in ZAR. Each step is a change in the legal rate.
Every change we have on record
Rates by type of work
| Category | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| Farm workers | R30.23 an hour |
| Domestic workers | R30.23 an hour |
| Expanded Public Works Programme workers | R16.62 an hour |
South Africa minimum wage: common questions
What is the minimum wage in South Africa?
The minimum wage in South Africa is R30.23 an hour, in ZAR. It applies to: national. It took effect on 1 Mar 2026.
Which law sets the minimum wage in South Africa?
National Minimum Wage Act 9 of 2018, amendment of Schedule 1, Government Notice R.7083, Government Gazette 54075 of 3 February 2026.
When did the minimum wage last change in South Africa?
It moved from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour on 1 Mar 2026. Our records of earlier rates start in 1 Jan 2019.
Does South Africa have different minimum wages for different jobs or places?
Yes. The law sets 3 separate rates by type of work or location, listed in the table on this page. The main figure above is the headline rate for national.
Source: National Minimum Wage Act 9 of 2018, amendment of Schedule 1, Government Notice R.7083, Government Gazette 54075 of 3 February 2026. Retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.
Cite this
PollsAfrica (2026). South Africa minimum wage 2026. Retrieved 10 Oct 2026 from https://pollsafrica.com/minimum-wage/south-africa