Low income, mental health crisis cripple domestic workers: Study 

South Africa’s domestic workers are currently facing a cost-of-living crisis as well as a significant decline in mental health.

This is according to a recent study which shows that although earnings for domestic workers increased by 5% year-on-year, living costs have risen by a worrying 15%.

The Vice Chairperson of Izwi Domestic Workers Alliance, Tshepiso Mphofe says the Alliance wants more domestic workers to have representation in Parliament.

“Someone here is supposed to fight the law. We’re supposed to sing this issue of domestic workers as a song. We are supposed to make it a song. We’re supposed to have more campaigns,” she says.

Mphofe adds that government departments such as the Labour Department need to assist domestic workers and enforce laws that will protect them.

Household cutting back on domestic help: Tshepiso Mphofe

‘Most exploited sector’

Following the recent release of second-quarter employment data, which showed a decline in the employment of domestic help, the United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA) says their members are leaving their jobs without a cent.

The union says many employers fail to register domestic workers for the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
UDWOSA maintains that the domestic worker sector remains the most exploited.

According to the seventh annual Sweep South Report, 83% of domestic workers in the country are breadwinners, and Eva Zoarder is one of them.

The mother of two says she lost her job eight years ago and has been struggling since then. Zoarder says she is unable to find work and currently lives from hand to mouth.

“Life is difficult now because I am no longer working. I am just sitting at home with no food. Many jobs now are looking for Standard 10, so with us if you don’t have that you can’t get a job easily, you now have to ask people to do their laundry and iron for them so you can have some money.”

Zoarder is not the only one feeling the pinch. Geraldine Brandt, who was a domestic worker for four years, says finding a permanent job in the sector has become difficult.

“It’s very sad because sometimes you see your child needs something and can’t even provide it so you just try your best but if you can’t your hands are tight.”

According to Stats SA, the decline in the employment of domestic workers is due to private households not being able to pay wages.

These women say it has become difficult to find any jobs. They say many employers have cut their days and only hire them for a day or two in a week.

The Union says this trend has been a concern post-Covid-19.

-Additional reporting by Karabo Siyoko in Kimberley