THOUSANDS of Basotho domestic workers employed in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) stand to lose from the imminent increase of the minimum wage for all workers as they do not have work permits.
business
Feb. 18, 2022
NEO SENOKO
3 min read
Basotho domestic workers face exploitation in SA
SA Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motswaledi
Story highlights
The workers stand to get paid M3 680 per month in the neighbouring country
In 2021, the minimum wage for domestic workers was R19.09 an hour while for everyone else was R21.69
While the big neighbour acknowledges that the minimum wage for domestic workers should be increased to be at the same level as that of other workers, many Basotho are likely to face serious exploitation from employers, who may take advantage of the situation.
Two weeks ago, the South African National Minimum Wage Commission recognised that the minimum wage for domestic workers should be at the same level as that of other workers.
Set at 75 percent of the national minimum wage, the domestic workers minimum wage has now been increased to 88 percent in 2021 under the National Minimum Wage Act of 2018.
In 2021, the minimum wage for domestic workers was R19.09 an hour while for everyone else was R21.69.
The updated minimum wage for domestic workers, expected to be published in the coming months at the rate of R23 per hour, amounts to R3 680 per month, working eight hours a day for five days a week.
In an interview with Maseru Metro on Tuesday, the executive director of the Lesotho Migrant Workers Association, Lerato Nkhetše said while the increase was seen as a positive move particularly for domestic workers, there were still challenges ahead as employers might resist the salary hike.
“It is better for those who have the Lesotho Exemption Permits because they are documented and therefore easily recognised,” she said.
“But in most cases you find that the employers prefer to engage undocumented people in order to easily exploit them. If they are undocumented, it becomes easy for them to face exploitation and abuse at the hands of the employers.”
However, despite all the challenges, Ms Nkhetše said the association has appealed to Basotho domestic workers in the RSA not to allow their employers to take advantage of them.
“Whether one is documented or not, our people should not allow any form of exploitation on them,” she said.
“They should report such abuse at the Department of Labour in South Africa or the CCMA. And one of the challenges we have seen is that people are afraid to report cases of abuse because they are afraid and desperate for jobs.
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“Domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to abuse as they are isolated and totally under their employers’ control. And when they do face abuse, they have little recourse. The law does not require this, but in reality it is difficult to deal with.”
She said even those in possession of the Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEP) still faced the same risk and some form of workplace abuse.
Domestic workers include drivers, gardeners and those who look after children, the aged, the sick, and disabled in a private household and maids.
Under normal circumstances, employers in the sector are not willing to increase salaries, instead, they would rather threaten, abuse or torture employees under the notion that they are desperate for employment.
Such employees on the other hand normally fail to take legal action against the abuse for fear of losing their jobs.
While the Lesotho exemption permit allows Basotho nationals to work freely in South Africa, the legality of its extension is unknown when it expires in 2023.
Already, the South African Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motswaledi has ruled that a similar permit for Zimbabweans would be discontinued when it expires at the end of this year.
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