SA loses 31,000 domestic worker jobs

South Africa has lost 31,000 domestic worker jobs in the third quarter of 2026, the lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Stats SA. The domestic worker sector has contracted sharply, with private households shedding 7.9% of jobs year-on-year in this period. There are approximately 800,000 domestic workers employed in the country.

The United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA) reports that employers are dismissing domestic workers without warning or prior notice, which is concerning. Pinky Mashiane, founder of UDWOSA, urges employers to give domestic workers severance packages and UI 19 forms upon termination. The CEO of Maid 4U, Lindiwe Shibambo, notes that many employers are not registering their workers for UIF, leaving them vulnerable.

Professor Jannie Rossouw from Wits Business School suggests that household budgets are being squeezed, leading to decisions about domestic help, and calls for higher fuel prices and economic growth rates to create new jobs. The labour union urges migrant domestic workers to file cases with the CCMA using their passport numbers and calls for the government to ensure compliance with minimum wage standards for domestic workers.