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    The Ultimate Domestic Workers Guide: The One and Only Guide for Domestic Workers/Employers in South Africa
    The Ultimate Domestic Workers Guide: The One and Only Guide for Domestic Workers/Employers in South Africa
    The Ultimate Domestic Workers Guide: The One and Only Guide for Domestic Workers/Employers in South Africa
    Ebook183 pages1 hour

    The Ultimate Domestic Workers Guide: The One and Only Guide for Domestic Workers/Employers in South Africa

    By Charmaine Murray and Elanè vd Westhuizen

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    About this ebook

    Being in the business of supplying work to domestic workers for the last twenty-plus years, I and my personal assistant thought it well to bring out an easy, understandable guide regarding employing a domestic worker and being employed as a domestic worker.
    Our offices are in Centurion, and we receive calls daily for assistance regarding many issues around domestic workers all over South Africa.
    Many domestic workers also visit our offices with requests regarding their work in a certain household as well as their rights in the workplace.
    Both of us do have an interest in the book and how the book will be put in order so that it will be an easy, understandable guide to the employer/employee and uphold both parties rights.
    We also have a training center for domestic workers and use our experience in this field in the book as wellfor example, communication gap, how to clean a house, laundry, how to make a menu, etc.
    We want to dedicate this book to all domestic workers all over South Africa as recognition for the great work they do!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPartridge Publishing Africa
    Release dateOct 13, 2015
    ISBN9781482808841
    The Ultimate Domestic Workers Guide: The One and Only Guide for Domestic Workers/Employers in South Africa
    Author

    Charmaine Murray

    Being in the business of supplying work to domestic workers for the last twenty-plus years, I and my personal assistant thought it well to bring out an easy, understandable guide regarding employing a domestic worker and being employed as a domestic worker. Our offices are in Centurion, and we receive calls daily for assistance regarding many issues around domestic workers all over SA. Many domestic workers also visit our offices with requests regarding their work in a certain household as well as their rights in the workplace. Both of us do have an interest in the book, how the book will be put in order so that it will be an easy, understandable guide to the employer/employee and uphold both party’s rights. We also have a training center for domestic workers and use our experience in this field in the book as well—for example, communication gap, how to clean a house, laundry, how to make a menu, etc. We want to dedicate this book to all domestic workers all over SA as recognition for the great work they do!

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      Book preview

      The Ultimate Domestic Workers Guide - Charmaine Murray

      Copyright © 2015 by Elanè vd Westhuizen; Charmaine Murray.

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      www.partridgepublishing.com/africa

      Contents

      1. Introduction

      2. How to Find a Domestic Worker

      3. How to Use This Guide

      4. Important Contact Numbers

      5. The Do’s and Don’ts of Domestic Workers

      6. Contract

      7. UIF Explained

      8. Monthly Time and Duty Sheets with Payslips

      9. Bridging the Communication Gap

      10. House-Cleaning Guidelines

      11. Laundry Guidelines

      12. Menu Planning and Preparing Shopping Lists

      13. Easy Recipes

      14. Safety and Security Guidelines

      15. How to Terminate Employment

      16. Minimum Wage

      17. Certificate of Service

      18. Basic Conditions of Employment Act Pertaining to Domestic Workers

      We want to dedicate this book to all domestic workers all over South Africa as recognition for the great work they do!

      Introduction

      The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) found that the number of domestic workers is more or less 1,153,000. Being in the business of supplying domestic workers for more than 20 years to many households in the Greater Pretoria region, we had many requests from employers and employees for guidance regarding employment.

      After a long time of contemplating thoughts of giving out some kind of guidance or record-keeping manual with all the requirements as per the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, we came up with this idea in book form.

      With this, the employer and the employee can have a hard copy record regarding employment and many other aspects of being a domestic worker in South Africa.

      We really hope that this book with a guide on record-keeping included will be of great help to both parties involved, and we also hope that this will take out from the employer the fear of employing a domestic worker and any unreasonable practices towards the employee.

      In this guide, we will direct you step by step according to what is expected by the law when you employ a domestic worker in order to ease out any fears of wrongdoing from the employer’s side and to safeguard the domestic worker from any unlawful practices being employed.

      How to Find a Domestic Worker

      This is quite a difficult task due to criminal activities involving a few domestic workers. Word of mouth can be a great way, but beware if the worker doesn’t have any contactable references from previous employers. Many domestic workers feel sorry for some of their friends/family members and will then refer them to a potential employer with remarks like, ‘This is my sister, and she is like me. She is a great worker just like me.’ They will even let someone else come and work in their place in instances where the current worker must go on maternity leave or something similar. Again, you are going to entrust your whole life with this person; many times your children are involved. Please make sure that you have followed up all previous references and kept records of all personal details of your domestic worker.

      Go to a reputable agency. By this, we want to bring it to your attention that there are many ‘fly by night’ agencies because they think it is an easy way of making money from home.

      This isn’t reliable. There is a lot of work involved before you can place a worker. And by law, no one is allowed to ask any employee money to find them a job.

      These agencies will insist on a fee of not less than R100 to find someone a work. This is an enormous amount of money for someone who doesn’t have work, and it’s against the law. The potential employer is supposed to pay a finder’s fee to the agent, depending on the agreement they sign with each other, but under no circumstances may an employee be liable for such payment.

      Preferably, choose an agency with a business address and that sticks by the office hours. Many so-called agencies operate from home, and the agent will most probably meet you in his or her pyjamas because they think you are only a domestic worker. Wrong. This is a very sensitive commitment, and most of the time, your employee will stay with you in your property; therefore, this must be handled in a professional manner from day one onwards to make it work.

      If you use the services of an agency, demand contact details of previous employers before employing someone. Do this before you pay any monies to the agency. The agent is allowed to withhold all personal details from a potential employee to make sure that there won’t be any negotiations behind the back of the agent before the agreement between a client and potential employee is upheld.

      A reputable agency will have all personal details of a potential employee on record as well as fingerprints, which are available at any stage after a placement of a worker. They will also be able to assist you in all legalities regarding employing your worker.

      Another option is when a friend has an excellent worker that will be available to work due to some change in the current employer’s circumstances, but we recommend you to make sure that you get all personal details of the worker, as per guide, on record for future reference.

      Many domestic workers are employed even when the employer doesn’t even know anything about the employee. If something happens to the domestic worker in your property and you don’t have any contact details of a next of kin to inform them, this reflects poorly on the employer’s judgement. Domestic workers have relatives or people that care for them. They are human beings just like me and you. Please keep this in mind when employing them.

      Employing a domestic worker is very personal because of the private space you share with such a worker. Therefore, take the time to know this person as far as possible, and this will also make your domestic worker feel that you care. A domestic worker isn’t just another machine in your household. A woman working as a domestic worker may have her own household to take care of and may also have her own worries, and she may be needed at her own house sometimes.

      When employing someone, make sure that you know where he or she lives, especially if he or she has to travel daily. Please take into consideration the travel time needed to get to the workplace. Remember, the domestic worker makes use of public transport—something that isn’t very reliable, as you ought to know. Also, keep it in mind that the person may need to get ready for transport as early as 3 a.m. If your domestic worker runs a few minutes late, don’t just fire the person, because this is inconvenient towards your own circumstances. Be reasonable to your employee! Keep it in mind that public transport is expensive when you negotiate wage. It isn’t fair to expect someone to work only for transport fees. Your domestic worker must also be able to make a living from this remuneration.

      Most importantly, make sure all paperwork, as per guide, is in place on the day your domestic worker is supposed to start working for you. This simple task can avoid many headaches in the future when you need to terminate the services of your domestic worker for any reason whatsoever. It’s also against the law to employ a domestic worker without any requirements presented, and you can get huge penalties from the Department of Labour if you withhold an employee’s documents when there is any kind of inspection at your house regarding the employment of a domestic worker.

      Meaning, respect isn’t something that is given but something one earns. Your domestic worker is someone who is there to make your

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