Referrals are a common way to find domestic help, but a written advert widens the choice to people who live within reach of your home, and it makes you settle the days, duties and pay before the first interview — the same details the law expects you to put in writing on day one. This page covers what to include in a domestic worker advert, what the 2026 wage floor means for full-time and part-time arrangements, the paperwork that comes with employing someone in your home, and how posting works on Cape Town Jobs.
What to include in your domestic worker job advert
Clear adverts get better applicants and fewer wasted interviews. Cover these points:
The days and hours — for example Monday to Friday 08:00–16:00, or two fixed days a week.
Live-in or live-out. For a live-in post, describe the room; any accommodation deduction has to be agreed in writing and is capped at 10% of the wage.
The duties that matter most: cleaning, laundry and ironing, cooking, childcare or care of an older person. If childcare is the main job, say so — nanny roles attract a different pool of candidates.
Your suburb and the nearest taxi or bus route. Travel time is one of the first things candidates check.
The pay, as a monthly figure or an hourly rate. Stating it up front screens out applicants the job won't suit.
Only the true must-haves: references from previous households, languages, or a driver's licence if school runs are involved.
Domestic workers are covered by the national minimum wage: R30.23 per hour since 1 March 2026 — about R5,890 per month for a full-time 45-hour week. Part-time arrangements are paid pro-rata at the same hourly rate, which is why monthly figures around R3,500 for two or three days a week are common and legal.
Live-in roles are usually paid partly in accommodation and meals, so the cash salary can look lower than a live-out role with the same hours. Nanny and au pair roles pay more where childcare is the main duty, especially with first-aid training or extra languages.
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the National Minimum Wage Act, UIF, COIDA and the sectoral determination for domestic workers all apply to private households.
Give written particulars of employment — hours, pay, leave and duties — on the first day, as section 29 of the BCEA requires.
Register yourself as the employer, and your worker, with UIF if they work more than 24 hours a month for you. Declarations are done online through uFiling.
Ordinary working hours are capped at 45 a week under the BCEA.
How posting a job works on Cape Town Jobs
Create a free employer account — no card is needed to sign up.
Write your listing: job title, description, requirements, salary and suburb.
Choose a plan. A Standard post starts at R299 and stays live for 30 days; Featured posts and multi-job Recruiter Packs are also available.
Pay securely through PayFast by card, instant EFT or SnapScan.
Most listings are reviewed and approved within 2–4 business hours, then go live on the site and in job-alert emails.
Edit the listing at any time from your employer dashboard while it is live.
See what domestic & cleaning job seekers are browsing
Before you write your advert, look at the live domestic & cleaning vacancies local job seekers are applying for on Cape Town Jobs. It shows how other employers word similar roles and what pay they quote.
What is the minimum wage for a domestic worker in 2026?
R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026, which is about R5,890 per month for a full-time 45-hour week. Part-time domestic workers earn the same hourly rate, pro-rata.
Do I have to register my domestic worker for UIF?
Yes, if they work more than 24 hours a month for you. You register as the employer and declare through uFiling. Our domestic worker contract guide walks through the steps.
Can I deduct accommodation from a live-in domestic worker's wage?
Only by written agreement, and the deduction is capped at 10% of the wage. The room also has to meet basic standards: weatherproof and lockable, with electricity, a window, and access to water and a toilet.
How much does it cost to advertise a domestic worker job on Cape Town Jobs?
Creating an employer account is free. A Standard post starts at R299 and stays live for 30 days; Featured posts, add-ons and Recruiter Packs are listed on the pricing page.