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    The National Minimum Wage rose to R30.23 an hour on 1 March 2026. Check your pay ->

    Employment & Your Crew

    Hiring, the BCEA, the National Minimum Wage, UIF, COIDA, the CCMA and contractor-versus-employee.

    11 guides in this section

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    Employing Your First Worker: BCEA Basics, PAYE, UIF and COIDA

    Hiring your first worker in SA: the R30.23 minimum wage, overtime and leave rules, written particulars, and how to register for PAYE, UIF and COIDA.

    Bargaining Councils in the Building Industry: Are You Bound?

    How building bargaining councils work in SA: BIBC, NBC and NBCEI coverage, extended agreements, council funds, and how to check whether you are bound.

    UIF Claims: What You Get, Who Qualifies and How to Apply

    How to claim UIF in South Africa: who qualifies, the 60% to 38% sliding scale, the R6,730.88 monthly cap, 365 credit days, documents and online steps.

    COIDA Injury Claims: What to Do When a Worker Gets Hurt

    COIDA injury claims step by step: report within 7 days, the forms you need, 75% of earnings for up to 12 months (extendable to 24), and what is covered.

    Labour Brokers, the 3-Month Deeming Rule and the PSP Tax Trap

    Labour brokers and section 198A: after 3 months a placed worker is deemed your employee. Plus the SARS personal service provider trap and PAYE withholding.

    Employee or Independent Contractor? The Tests That Decide

    Employee or contractor in SA? The statutory presumption below the earnings threshold, the dominant impression test, the SARS test and real subcontracts.

    Dismissals and the CCMA: Getting It Fair, Twice Over

    How to dismiss fairly in South Africa: misconduct hearings, incapacity, retrenchment under section 189, severance pay, and how CCMA con-arb works.

    The Skills Levy, CETA Grants and Employment Equity for Small Firms

    The 1% skills development levy, claiming 20% back through CETA, and why most small trade businesses are exempt from employment equity plans from 2025.

    Hiring Foreign Workers in Construction: Visas, Duties and the Quota Question

    Hiring foreign workers in SA construction: work visa routes, the points system, employer duties, and why the foreign-worker quotas are proposed, not law.

    Apprentices and Learnerships: Trade Tests, Pay and the s12H Allowance

    Apprentices and learnerships in SA: trade tests and the EISA, minimum apprentice allowances from March 2026, the section 12H allowance and CETA funding.

    Apprentice and Learner Rights on Site

    Your rights as an SA apprentice or learner: the three-party agreement, Schedule 2 minimum allowances, PPE, the trade test, and the CCMA route if unpaid.