Every South African worker has rights. This tool helps you understand them, check if you are being underpaid, and report employers who break the law.
Every worker in South Africa is entitled to at least R28.79 per hour (from March 2026). Domestic workers: R27.58/hour. Farm workers: R28.79/hour. Your employer cannot pay you less than this — it is illegal.
Maximum 45 hours per week. Maximum 9 hours per day (5-day week) or 8 hours per day (6-day week). Overtime must be agreed in writing and paid at 1.5× your normal rate. Sunday work is paid at double your normal rate.
Annual leave: 21 consecutive days (15 working days) per year. Sick leave: 30 days over 3 years. Family responsibility leave: 3 days per year (child birth, illness, death). Maternity leave: 4 consecutive months (unpaid, but you can claim UIF).
Your employer must give you a payslip every time you are paid. It must show: employer name and address, your name and job, pay period, gross pay, all deductions, and net pay. Refusing to give a payslip is illegal.
You must receive a written contract or letter of appointment. It must include: job description, working hours, pay, leave, and notice period. Verbal agreements are legally valid but much harder to enforce.
Your employer must register you for UIF and deduct 1% from your salary (they also contribute 1%). UIF covers you if you lose your job, are ill, or go on maternity leave. If your employer is not registering you, report them to the DoEL.
If you work for a platform (Uber, Bolt, Mr D, Checkers Sixty60) and are treated like an employee (set hours, rules, uniform, discipline), you may legally be an employee — not a contractor. You may be entitled to minimum wage, leave, and UIF.
Your employer must have a fair reason and follow a fair process to dismiss you. You must be heard before being dismissed. If dismissed unfairly, you have 30 days to refer the dispute to the CCMA — it is free.