Domestic work covers various roles. You may be hiring help for cleaning, childcare, or elderly care. Understanding each role’s duties and pay helps set fair expectations.
Image: Domestic worker dusting furniture.
Key Roles and Duties
- Housekeeper/Cleaner: Handles general cleaning (floors, kitchen, laundry). May also shop or cook basic meals.
- Nanny/Childcare Worker: Focuses on childcare and feeding, plus light cleaning related to children. Must often be patient and child-friendly.
- Caregiver/Elderly Care: Provides personal care (bathing, feeding) and housekeeping for elderly or disabled. May assist with mobility or medication reminders.
- Gardener/Handyman: Tends gardens or does odd jobs. Usually separate from indoor cleaning, but still a type of domestic help.
Each of these falls under “domestic worker” by law[9]. (BCEA defines domestic work to include cleaning, gardening, and care of children/elderly[9][10].)
Differences in Salary and Expectations
Wages often align with skills and hours:
- Complex skills, higher pay: Nannies and trained caregivers typically earn more. For example, a survey found childcare workers earned a median ~R3,463–3,464 per month[6], above gardeners at R3,128.
- Basic cleaning, average pay: A full-time house cleaner might earn closer to the general median (~R2,350–3,348 per month)[6].
- Part-time rates: All workers must at least meet the national hourly minimum (R30.23/h)[1]. Part-time cleaners are often paid an hourly or daily rate reflecting that base.
Consider duties when deciding wages: a maid handling many tasks (cleaning, laundry, cooking) may warrant R5,000+ per month, whereas a part-time cleaner (3–4 days/week) at min wage might cost R1,500–2,000 monthly.
Role Examples
- Live-In vs Live-Out: Live-in nannies or housekeepers often work longer hours (max 45h/week) with room provided; live-out workers commute daily. Live-in may get slightly lower cash pay (offset by free lodging) but still must meet legal wage standards[1].
Special Skills: CPR-trained caregivers or those with formal childcare training can negotiate higher pay. Always clarify qualifications during hiring.