Minimum wages for Farm and Forestry workers is set to increase by 5.6% to R16.25/hour as from 1st March 2018. When the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is introduced in May 2018, it is expected that it will increase further to R18.00/hour.

This represents a 17% increase from the current (2017) minimum wage of R15.39/hour.

The National Minimum Wage, which featured prominently in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address to Parliament, will be set at R20/hour, and will be reviewed annually, according to the Department of Labour.

Farm and Forestry workers minimum wage will be set at 80% of the NMW i.e. R18/hour, while domestic workers minimum wage will be set at 75% of the NMW i.e. R15/hour.

It has been agreed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) that minimum wages for farm, forestry and domestic workers will be brought to 100% of the NMW within two years.

Furthermore in terms of the NMW, employers will not be allowed to unilaterally alter employees’ working conditions or working hours in order to mitigate the impact of the NMW on their wages bill.

The Farm and Forestry workers minimum wage in terms of the Sectoral Determination will increase from 1st March 2018 as follows:

Monthly: R3 169,19 (2017/18: R3 001,13)

Weekly: R731,41 (2017/18: R692,62)

Daily: R146,28 (2017/18: R138,52) - For employees who work 9 hours a day 
Hourly: R16,25 (2017/18: R15,39).