The South African government has recently announced an increase in the National Minimum Wage (NMW), effective from March 1, 2025. The new minimum wage has been adjusted from R27.58 to R28.79 per hour, marking a 4.4% increase. This adjustment aims to address the rising cost of living.
Key Points of the New Minimum Wage
Increased Rate: The NMW has been increased to R28.79 per hour for all workers, including domestic and farm workers.
Expanded Public Works Programme: Workers on this program will receive a minimum wage of R15.83 per hour, up from R15.16.
Impact on Workers and Employers
The increase in the minimum wage is expected to have a significant impact on both workers and employers. For workers, especially those in vulnerable sectors like domestic and farm workers, this increase may cause employers to potentially cut jobs.
This increase comes just before the Budget Speech where an increase in tax rates are expected and the removal of medical aid tax credits.
Why Affordability Matters
Payroll is one of the most critical functions for any business in South Africa. With SARS compliance, UIF contributions, and leave management requirements, the wrong choice can lead to penalties or frustrated employees. Did you know that South Africa has one of the world's highest SMME failure rates, with 70-80% failing within five years, often due to challenges like regulatory compliance and administrative costs? For small businesses, affordability isn’t just about saving money - it’s about sustainability and growth. That's where true affordability comes in, especially with free payroll software options tailored for South African SMEs. read more
February 5, 2026
Introducing Two‑Factor Authentication (2FA) in openHR
A new layer of dignity, security, and stewardship for your payroll and HR data
At openHR, we design every feature with one goal: to protect the dignity of your business and your employees. Today, we’re proud to introduce Two‑Factor Authentication (2FA) - a simple, powerful way to secure your account using something you know (your password) and something you have (a one‑time code generated on your phone). And as always - this feature is included as standard in our Free tier along with many more unlimited features. read more
