Domestic Workers: The latest report by SweepSouth reveals that South African domestic workers are still facing a myriad of challenges

NIGHT TALK

Guest: Pinky Mashiane, Founder and president of the United Domestic Workers of South Africa

The latest report by SweepSouth reveals that South African domestic workers are still facing a myriad of challenges including economic hardships and mental challenges. The report says the living cost of domestic workers has increased by 15% over the past year, completely dwarfing the 5% earnings increase, according to SweepSouth

• Happy Women’s month but it seems a difficult for domestic workers in South Africa. What do you do make of this report?
• How would you do describe the state of domestic workers in SA at the moment?
• This report says about 46% of domestic workers still earn less that the legally prescribe minimum wage?
• Why are we still struggling to enforce the minimum wage rule when it comes to domestic workers?
• A number of domestic workers are foreign nationals, does that open them to abuse?
• What are other types of abuses are they facing on top of the underpayment they receive?
• The report also talk about their struggles with mental health
• Are their struggles the same whether working in a suburb or a township household?
• What about the domestic workers are part of the gig economy? The ones that get to be employed for one day via different apps like SweepSouth, do they face the same struggles?
• What do we need to protect domestic workers in SA and for them to get what they deserve?
• What is the role of government or the Department of Labour to make this possible?