{"id":295685,"date":"2026-02-04T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:01:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T10:01:51","slug":"national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/","title":{"rendered":"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa’s national minimum wage will rise to R30.23 per hour from 1 March, Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increase from R28.79 represents a R1.44 uplift that will benefit all workers, including farm and domestic workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workers employed under the Expanded Public Works Programme will see their minimum wage rise from R15.16 to R16.62 per hour. The lower rate applies because EPWP workers are employed under a special dispensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workers on learnership agreements under the Skills Development Act of 1998 are entitled to allowances detailed in Schedule 2 of the regulations. These rates will be published on the department’s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Minimum Wage Act, which came into effect in 2019, requires employers to pay workers a minimum amount per hour. The rate is subject to annual review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department stated that the minimum wage is the floor which employers are legally obligated to pay employees for work done. It cannot be varied by contract, collective agreement or law. Unilaterally altering hours of work or other employment conditions to implement the minimum wage constitutes an unfair labour practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Violations of the Act are subject to fines enforced by the department’s inspectorate and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updated rates for the Contract Cleaning Sector and Wholesale and Retail Sector are available on the department’s website at\u00a0labour.gov.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Act applies to all workers except members of the South African National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency and the South African Secret Service. It also excludes volunteers who perform work without receiving remuneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minimum wage does not include allowances such as transport, tools, food, accommodation, payments in kind, tips, bonuses or gifts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South Africa’s national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":295687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"1","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[9185,9065,9186,9187,91],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-295685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-domestic-workers","tag-expanded-public-works-programme","tag-minimum-wage","tag-national-minimum-wage","tag-top"],"yoast_head":"\nNational minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour | Kouga Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South Africa's national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Africa's national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kouga Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-04T09:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-04T10:01:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kougaexpress.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg?fit=722%2C576&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"722\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"576\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Novus Media\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Novus Media\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Novus Media\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/395912058d452b1e4028fd7e3b854216\"},\"headline\":\"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-04T09:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-04T10:01:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":290,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/domestic-worker.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"domestic workers\",\"Expanded Public Works Programme\",\"minimum wage\",\"National minimum wage\",\"Top\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/\",\"name\":\"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour | Kouga Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/domestic-worker.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-04T09:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-04T10:01:51+00:00\",\"description\":\"South Africa's national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/domestic-worker.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/domestic-worker.jpg\",\"width\":722,\"height\":576,\"caption\":\"The national minimum wage will increase from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour from 1 March.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kouga Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Kouga Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Kouga Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PEExpress1\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\"],\"description\":\"Kouga Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of the Kouga area since 2004. Established with the goal of keeping the Kouga and Koukamma communities informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 20,000 free copies delivered mostly door to door every week. Kouga Express\u2019 distribution area includes Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St. Francis Bay, Cape St. Francis, Aston Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Storms River, Tsitsikamma, Misgund, Joubertina, Krakeelrivier, Louterwater, Kareedouw, and Uniondale.\",\"email\":\"kougaexpress@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"042-992 5650\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/395912058d452b1e4028fd7e3b854216\",\"name\":\"Novus Media\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/301565e6eb478c51ef897a38a789d0f3da6ec2a9ceb0d64f47de374b41e63698?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/301565e6eb478c51ef897a38a789d0f3da6ec2a9ceb0d64f47de374b41e63698?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/301565e6eb478c51ef897a38a789d0f3da6ec2a9ceb0d64f47de374b41e63698?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Novus Media\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/kougaexpress\\\/author\\\/novusmedia\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour | Kouga Express","description":"South Africa's national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour","og_description":"South Africa's national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/","og_site_name":"Kouga Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","article_published_time":"2026-02-04T09:30:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-04T10:01:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":722,"height":576,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kougaexpress.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg?fit=722%2C576&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Novus Media","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Novus Media","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/"},"author":{"name":"Novus Media","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/395912058d452b1e4028fd7e3b854216"},"headline":"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour","datePublished":"2026-02-04T09:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-04T10:01:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/"},"wordCount":290,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg","keywords":["domestic workers","Expanded Public Works Programme","minimum wage","National minimum wage","Top"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/","name":"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour | Kouga Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg","datePublished":"2026-02-04T09:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-04T10:01:51+00:00","description":"South Africa's national minimum wage increase to R30.23 per hour, effective from 1 March, will enhance pay for workers across many sectors.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg","width":722,"height":576,"caption":"The national minimum wage will increase from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour from 1 March."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/national-minimum-wage-to-increase-to-r30-23-per-hour\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"National minimum wage to increase to R30.23 per hour"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/","name":"Kouga Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#organization","name":"Kouga Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kouga-express-site-icon-1.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Kouga Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/"],"description":"Kouga Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of the Kouga area since 2004. Established with the goal of keeping the Kouga and Koukamma communities informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 20,000 free copies delivered mostly door to door every week. Kouga Express\u2019 distribution area includes Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, St. Francis Bay, Cape St. Francis, Aston Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Storms River, Tsitsikamma, Misgund, Joubertina, Krakeelrivier, Louterwater, Kareedouw, and Uniondale.","email":"kougaexpress@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"042-992 5650","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/395912058d452b1e4028fd7e3b854216","name":"Novus Media","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/301565e6eb478c51ef897a38a789d0f3da6ec2a9ceb0d64f47de374b41e63698?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/301565e6eb478c51ef897a38a789d0f3da6ec2a9ceb0d64f47de374b41e63698?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/301565e6eb478c51ef897a38a789d0f3da6ec2a9ceb0d64f47de374b41e63698?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Novus Media"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/author\/novusmedia\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/domestic-worker.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56960,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/radio-station-puts-women-on-the-map-20181031-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":295685,"position":0},"title":"Radio station puts women on the map","author":"Kouga Express","date":"1 November 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"WOMEN from different KwaNomzamo Christian denominations participated in a national radio programme when Umhlobo Wenene FM did a live broadcast of their show from the Methodist Church on Thursday.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":297121,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/government-pays-tribute-to-workers-as-opposition-highlights-unemployment-crisis\/","url_meta":{"origin":295685,"position":1},"title":"Government pays tribute to workers as opposition highlights unemployment crisis","author":"Lise Beyers","date":"1 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"South Africa's Workers' Day recognized workforce contributions amid high unemployment, prompting contrasting views on job creation and governance effectiveness.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Geordin Hill-Lewis, Workers Day.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AFP__20260227__996F8Z9__v1__HighRes__SafricaPolitics.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AFP__20260227__996F8Z9__v1__HighRes__SafricaPolitics.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AFP__20260227__996F8Z9__v1__HighRes__SafricaPolitics.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AFP__20260227__996F8Z9__v1__HighRes__SafricaPolitics.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AFP__20260227__996F8Z9__v1__HighRes__SafricaPolitics.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AFP__20260227__996F8Z9__v1__HighRes__SafricaPolitics.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52083,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/pothole-repairs-move-up-a-gear-20200826-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":295685,"position":2},"title":"Pothole repairs move up a gear","author":"Kouga Express","date":"27 August 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"POTHOLE repairs are set to be accelerated across the Kouga region after heavy rains caused extensive damage to roads.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58114,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/bungles-delay-r165-million-project-20180606-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":295685,"position":3},"title":"Bungles delay R165 million project","author":"Kouga Express","date":"7 June 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"POOR planning and shoddy workmanship contributed to the people of Hankey not benefiting from a R165,4 million government project, which was supposed to create much needed job opportunities.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9eb6293999fb4f68a291a11a5f135ca4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9eb6293999fb4f68a291a11a5f135ca4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9eb6293999fb4f68a291a11a5f135ca4.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9eb6293999fb4f68a291a11a5f135ca4.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58000,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/woodlands-empowers-unemployed-youth-20180620-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":295685,"position":4},"title":"Woodlands empowers unemployed youth","author":"Kouga Express","date":"21 June 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"WOODLANDS Dairy in Humansdorp is set to take in new learners for their annual Woodlands Dairy Learnership Programme.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4b236b40c61c442ba907f01865ecac02.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4b236b40c61c442ba907f01865ecac02.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4b236b40c61c442ba907f01865ecac02.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4b236b40c61c442ba907f01865ecac02.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53253,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/household-travel-survey-comes-to-kouga-20200205-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":295685,"position":5},"title":"Household Travel Survey comes to Kouga","author":"Kouga Express","date":"6 February 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A number of Kouga households will be approached over the next two months to participate in the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS).","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"NovaNews","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/85"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/295687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295685"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=295685"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=295685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}