Employment baselines
Minimum wage, UIF & SDL
The three numbers that govern South African payroll: the wage floor, the contribution ceiling, and the levy rate.
- National Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr
- UIF earnings ceiling
- R17 712/mo
- Skills Development Levy
- 1% of payroll
Effective from 2026-03-01
The wage floor
The National Minimum Wage Act sets a single hourly floor for nearly every worker in South Africa. The Minister of Employment & Labour gazettes a new figure every March after consultation with the National Minimum Wage Commission. Sectoral determinations may set higher minima in specific industries — domestic workers, farm workers, and contract cleaners all have their own schedules.
UIF and SDL
UIF contributions are 1% from the employer and 1% from the employee, calculated against the lower of actual monthly earnings or the gazetted ceiling. The Skills Development Levy is a flat 1% of payroll paid by the employer to SARS, ring-fenced for industry training. SDL applies only to employers with annual payrolls above R500,000.
Apply these baselines
Frequently asked questions
What is the South African National Minimum Wage in 2026?
Effective 1 March 2026, the National Minimum Wage is R30.23 per hour — a 9.6% increase from the previous R27.58. The figure applies to every worker covered by the BCEA. Sectoral determinations may set higher floors for specific industries (farm workers, domestic workers, hospitality).
What is the UIF earnings ceiling for 2026?
The UIF contribution ceiling is currently R17,712 per month. Employers and employees each contribute 1% of remuneration up to that cap. Earnings above the cap do not attract UIF contributions.
How much SDL must employers pay in South Africa?
The Skills Development Levy is 1% of total payroll. Employers with annual payroll under R500,000 are exempt. The levy is collected monthly via the EMP201 return and funds SETA training programmes.
When does the minimum wage change in South Africa?
The National Minimum Wage is reviewed and gazetted by the Minister of Employment & Labour every year, taking effect 1 March. The annual increase is informed by CPI and the National Minimum Wage Commission's recommendation to Cabinet.
Does the minimum wage apply to domestic workers and farm workers?
Yes. Since 1 March 2022 domestic workers and farm workers receive the same national minimum wage as all other employees. Earlier sector-specific lower floors were phased out.
Source: Department of Employment & Labour · As of 2026-03-01