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Employing an au pair in South Africa

Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)

Last reviewed

This is general guidance, not legal advice.

Employment law changes, varies by region and depends on your exact arrangement. Figures below are researched from official sources but go out of date — always confirm the current position with the official body linked on this page, or with a qualified labour adviser, before you rely on it.

South Africa’s BCEA sets minimum standards for domestic and household employment, generally understood to cover an au pair’s childcare work in your home. Confirm anything important with the Department of Employment and Labour or a labour consultant.

Pay floor

R27.58 per hour

Verify — South Africa’s National Minimum Wage is reviewed roughly every March and may be outdated.

What to get right

1

Written contract

A written contract is a legal requirement for domestic workers under the BCEA — use the contract template in the NannyTank app as a starting point and adjust it to your situation.

2

Minimum wage

South Africa has a National Minimum Wage that applies per hour worked. Confirm the current rate — it’s reviewed and increased roughly every year.

3

UIF registration

Employers of domestic workers must register with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and pay monthly contributions — employer and employee each contribute roughly 1% of pay, up to a wage ceiling.

4

Leave entitlements

The BCEA sets minimum annual leave, sick leave (accrued over a 3-year cycle) and family responsibility leave, on top of public holidays.

5

Notice period

The BCEA sets minimum notice periods for ending employment, which scale with length of service.

Official sources

Check these for the current position — they are the authority, this page is not.

An editable contract template for South Africa

NannyTank includes a downloadable employment contract template that references Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) — you fill in the agreed pay and hours. Available in the app, along with hours, overtime and claim tracking.

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NannyTank is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is a starting point to help you know what to look into; it may be incomplete or out of date, and it does not account for your specific circumstances. Confirm anything you rely on with the official bodies above or a qualified adviser.