How much do domestic workers earn in South Africa vs Zimbabwe?
· The South African
Domestic workers in South Africa and Zimbabwe are covered by minimum-wage rules, but the amounts workers are legally entitled to earn differ significantly.
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For years, many Zimbabweans have crossed into South Africa in search of better-paying jobs and improved economic opportunities, with some finding work as domestic workers in South African households.
However, recent changes to South Africa’s immigration laws could make it more costly for employers to hire undocumented foreign nationals.
Employers who knowingly employ illegal foreign workers can face a fine of up to R100 000 for a first offence, meaning households that employ undocumented domestic workers could also be affected.
Here’s how the two countries compare.
A look at Zimbabwe’s latest wage rates
Zimbabwe’s government increased the minimum wage for domestic workers from US$85 (about R1 370) to US$90 (about R1 451) per month in June 2026.
The new wage was announced following recommendations from the tripartite Wages and Salaries Advisory Council.
Yard workers and gardeners are also entitled to a minimum of US$90 per month.
Other categories have higher minimum wages.
Cooks and housekeepers, for example, have a minimum wage of US$99 (about R1 596) per month, while child minders and workers caring for elderly people or people with disabilities have a minimum of US$108 (about R1 741).
Certified carers with a Red Cross certificate have a minimum of US$117 (about R1 886).
For a straightforward comparison with South Africa, however, the US$90 domestic-worker minimum is the figure to use.
At the 13 August 2026 exchange rate, US$90 was worth approximately R1 451.
How much do domestic workers earn in South Africa?
South Africa’s National Minimum Wage increased to R30.23 per ordinary hour worked from 1 March 2026.
The new rate applies to domestic workers as well as other workers covered by the National Minimum Wage Act.
For a worker putting in a 45-hour working week, the Department of Employment and Labour calculates the minimum at approximately R5 894.40 per month.
This means the South African statutory minimum is considerably higher than Zimbabwe’s US$90 monthly minimum when converted into rands.
What do domestic workers actually earn in South Africa?
The legal minimum does not necessarily reflect what domestic workers actually take home.
The latest SweepSouth Domestic Worker Pay and Working Conditions Report found that the median monthly income from domestic work was R3 635.
The report also found that 39% of surveyed domestic workers earned below the National Minimum Wage at the time of the survey.
The survey covered more than 5 000 domestic workers and found that Zimbabweans made up the largest nationality group among respondents.
South Africa has a much higher statutory minimum, but some workers still report earning below that legal floor.