Bargaining Council: National Wage Schedule Effective March 1, 2026 & HBSI Pension Fund Responsible Person

NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE FROM 1 MARCH 2026

The Minister of Employment and Labour has, by Notice (No. R 7083) in the Government Gazette (No. 54075, dated 3 February 2026), amended the National Minimum Wage from R28.79 per hour to R30.23 per hour, with effect from 1 March 2026. The amounts applicable to Learners have also been amended. Gazette-NMW-1-March-2026.pdf

The minimum wage and learnership allowances prescribed by the National Minimum Wage Commission are adhered to as a basis for the calculation of the prescribed minimum wages in the Wage Schedules. However, it must be noted that the employer portion of the Pension Fund contribution is also factored into the calculations.

This results in the amount under the hourly rate or weekly rate in the Wage Schedules appearing less than the amount of the NMW, in some instances. However, the hourly rate calculation plus the value of the employer portion of the Pension Fund contribution cannot be less than the NMW prescribed by the NMW Commission.

The inclusion of the Employer’s portion of Pension Fund contributions is consistent with the Labour Appeal Court’s ruling in Quantum Foods (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner H Jacobs N.O. and Others (2024) 45 ILJ 71 (LAC) (18 October 2023).

WAGE SCHEDULES EFFECTIVE FROM 1 MARCH 2026

The Wage Schedules (Annexure H of the Main Collective Agreement) have been updated to include the increase in terms of the collective agreement entered into between the parties (6% on prescribed salaries - see January Chronicle) and the updated National Minimum Wage, with effect from 1 March 2026.

DIVISION 101 - GAUTENG, EXCLUDING ALBERTON, PRETORIA, WONDERBOOM, BRONKHORSTSPRUIT (KUNGWINI) AND CULLINAN Div 101 

DIVISION 102 - EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE (EXCLUDING PORT ELIZABETH, UITENHAGE AND HUMANSDORP) Div 102 

DIVISION103 - KIMBERLEY AND ALL OF THE OTHER MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS OF THE NORTHERN CAPE Div 103 

DIVISION 104 - PORT ELIZABETH, UITENHAGE AND HUMANSDORP Div 104 

DIVISION 105 – ALBERTON Div 105 

DIVISION106 – CAPE TOWN, WYNBERG, SIMONSTOWN AND BELVILLE Div 106 

DIVISION 106 (New Scope)- THE ENTIRE WESTERN CAPE (EXCLUDING CAPE TOWN, WYNBERG, SIMONSTOWN AND BELVILLE) Div 106 (new Scope) 

DIVISION 107 - PROVINCE OF THE FREE STATE Div 107 

DIVISION 108 - NORTH-WEST PROVINCE ( EXCLUDING RUSTENBURG, BRITS AND MANKWE) Div 108 

DIVISION 109 - THE ENTIRE KWA-ZULU NATAL PROVINCE Div 109 

DIVISION 112 - PRETORIA, WONDERBOOM - WORKING 40 HOURS HAIRDRESSING, 45 HOURS BEAUTY AND 25 HOURS PART-TIME Div 112 

DIVISION 113 - PRETORIA, WONDERBOOM - WORKING 45 HOURS AND PART-TIME 25 HOURS - ALL CATEGORIES Div 113 

DIVISION 114 - BRONKHORSTSPRUIT AND CULLINAN Div 114 

DIVISION 115 - RUSTENBURG, BRITS, MANKWE (HARTBEESPOORT)- WORKING 45 HOURS Div 115 

DIVISION 116 - THE ENTIRE LIMPOPO PROVINCE - WORKING 45 HOURS Div 116 

DIVISION 117 - MPUMALANGA PROVINCE - WORKING 45 HOURS Div 117 

HBSI: SECTION 13A OF THE PENSION FUNDS ACT: RESPONSIBLE PERSON

Employers are reminded of their legal duty to provide the HBSI Fund with details of the Responsible Person in their entities and to take note of the consequences of a failure to do so.

Section 13A(9)(a) of the Pension Funds Act requires retirement funds to request participating employers in writing to identify the person(s) responsible.

The HBSI Pension Fund has previously issued a formal request to all Employers to provide the names and contact details of the Responsible Person/s for their entities. HBSI Section-13A.

The forms that have been circulated by the HBSI Front Office on behalf of the Fund should be completed and submitted to hbsipension@prevue.co.za.

If you have not received the letter and/or form, kindly contact the HBSI Front Office at the email address above to obtain the necessary documents.

In terms of Section 13A(9)(b) of the Act, if an employer fails to designate in writing the individual responsible for ensuring compliance—after being formally requested to do so by the Fund—all directors, salon owners and members of management, as the case may be, will be held personally liable for any unpaid pension contributions.

Please consult the Council’s WEBSITE for the contact details of Agents in your area.

For more information, contact: www.hcsbc.co.za