The national Minimum Wage for farm workers – including forestry workers – has been increased to R18.68 per hour, which represents a modest 3.8% increase on last year’s minimum wage of R18 per hour.

The new rate comes into effect on 1 March 2020.

The increase was announced by the Minister of Employment and Labour Thembelani W Nxesi, and published in the Government Gazette dated 17 February 2020.

By way of comparison, the new national minimum wage set for all employees (except farm and domestic workers) is R20.76; the national minimum wage for domestic workers is now R15.56.

Related article: R18 hour minimum wage for 2019

*First published in SA Forestry magazine, March 2020