The Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) will over this weekend complete the public hearing process in the Domestic Worker Sector which started at the beginning of this month. The hearings were conducted countrywide to obtain stakeholder inputs on reviewing wages and conditions of employment.  Wages in the sector will be lapsing on November 30, 2008 and new wages will have to be set for a period of three years thereafter.  

The Department of Labour said the terms of reference for hearings were published on March 07, 2008 and were set out to review the following:

·          Wage should increase by CPIX plus 2% as from 1 December 2008 and the same  increase (CPIX+2%) should apply for a period of three years.

·          That the increase should not be capped at 10% if CPIX increases beyond 10% as this does will not have the effect of addressing inflationary pressures for these workers.

·          The standby allowance should be increased from R20 to R50 per shift

·          There should be a provision for a transport allowance given the increased transport costs

In finalizing the information gathering process, the Department would like to invite inputs from stakeholders on these and other matters in relation to minimum wages and conditions of employment in the Domestic Worker Sector. The inputs will assist the ECC to make an informed decision when advising the Minister on minimum wage levels and conditions of employment for the sector.

Inputs in this regard should be forwarded to Titus Mtsweni, Department of Labour, Employment Standards Directorate, Private Bag X117, Pretoria, 0001. or be emailed to: titus.mtsweni@labour.gov.za, alternatively they may be faxed to 012 309 4709.