South Africa minimum wage in 2026

Step by step

How to do this on Swift Payrolls

1. 1

   Confirm the applicable hourly rate

   Use the official National Minimum Wage rate as the floor, then check whether a higher contract rate or sector rule applies to the employee.

2. 2

   Calculate ordinary hours for the period

   Multiply the hourly rate by ordinary hours worked in the pay period, and keep overtime, allowances, or deductions separate.

3. 3

   Add the employee in Swift Payrolls

   Create the employee record, including the worker name, pay setup, UIF status, and any recurring employee details.

4. 4

   Generate the payroll preview

   Open Payroll, enter the period and pay details, then preview the payslip before the PDF is created.

5. 5

   Add any visible adjustments

   Use custom income or deduction lines for overtime, unpaid leave, advances, or other items that need to be visible on the payslip.

6. 6

   Download the PDF payslip

   Generate the final PDF once the gross pay, deductions, and net pay have been reviewed.

Current minimum wage figure

The Department of Employment and Labour announced the 2026 National Minimum Wage increase from R28.79 to R30.23 per ordinary hour worked. The amended rate applies from 1 March 2026.

Basic monthly example

If a worker earns R30.23 per ordinary hour and works 160 ordinary hours in a month, gross ordinary pay would be R4,836.80 before deductions or adjustments. This is a simple payroll example, not a substitute for reviewing the contract and hours actually worked.

• R30.23 x 160 ordinary hours = R4,836.80 gross ordinary pay.
• Overtime, unpaid leave, advances, and allowances should be tracked separately.
• PAYE and UIF treatment depends on the full payroll context.

Why payslip records matter

A clear payslip helps the worker see ordinary pay, deductions, and net pay. It also creates a record they can use when applying for rentals, accounts, credit, or other financial opportunities.

Questions

FAQ