South Africa Sets New Payment Rules for Employers

South Africa's labor legislation outlines explicit obligations for employers concerning how, when, and in what form workers must receive their remuneration. All payments must be made in South African currency.

Employers have the option to pay workers daily, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, and payments can be made in cash, by cheque, or through direct deposit into a bank account designated by the employee. If cash or cheque payments are made, they must be delivered at the workplace or another agreed location during working hours or within 15 minutes before or after those hours.

Payments must be placed in a sealed envelope, which becomes the employee's property. Employers are required to pay any outstanding remuneration no later than seven days after the end of the pay period or seven days after the termination of a contract, although this does not apply to pension or provident fund payments, which are governed by separate rules.