Will South Africa Cut Working Hours? What It Would Take to Make It Happen

South Africa is known for having some of the longest working hours globally, but could this soon change? The idea of reducing working hours has been raised before, but implementing such a shift would require substantial changes in wages and labor policies.

The Current Workweek in South Africa

Under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), South African workers are legally allowed to work a maximum of 45 hours per week (excluding overtime). However, collective bargaining agreements in some industries already enforce shorter workweeks.

As of February 2025, this rule applies to all employees earning below R254,371.67 per year (or R21,197.64 per month). Employers, however, are not required to set the full 45-hour workweek—lower working hours can be negotiated between employers and employees.

The Push to Reduce Working Hours

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has acknowledged the possibility of reducing work hours further, citing past research from institutions like Oxford University and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Although South Africans average 42.6 work hours per week, which is not among the top 50 longest globally, the DEL has expressed interest in moving towards a 40-hour workweek.

What It Would Take to Cut Work Hours

According to Dieter Von Fintel, a development economist at Stellenbosch University, reducing working hours is only feasible if workers earn enough per hour to make shorter weeks sustainable.

Many wealthier countries have shorter workweeks because hourly wages are significantly higher, allowing employees to take home a liveable salary without working excessive hours.

However, in South Africa, many workers earn very little per hour, meaning they are incentivized to work longer shifts just to cover basic living costs, including transport and food.

The Minimum Wage Challenge

Currently, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in South Africa is R27.58 per hour. Based on a 21-day work month, this translates to:

• R220.64 per day
• R4,633.44 per month

Research from the PMBEJD Group indicates that this is far below a livable wage, with workers needing at least R6,633.02 per month (or R37.69 per hour) to afford basic expenses with dignity.

Would Raising Minimum Wages Help?

Von Fintel suggests that increasing the minimum wage significantly could allow for shorter workweeks without reducing take-home pay. However, this would need to be carefully managed to avoid job losses and maintain economic stability.

“Current evidence suggests that minimum wages are fairly benign to employment in South Africa,” he says. “But we don’t know how much they can be increased before causing job losses.”

Can South Africa Implement a Shorter Workweek?

While collective bargaining councils already enforce lower workweek limits in some industries, many workers are not covered. To implement a nationwide shorter workweek, changes to the BCEA would be necessary.

The reality is that for South Africa to move towards a 40-hour workweek, companies would need to pay significantly higher wages, which might not be feasible for all employers. Without higher wages, reducing hours could result in financial hardship for workers rather than improved work-life balance.

The debate around reducing working hours in South Africa is ongoing, but without meaningful wage increases, a shorter workweek remains a challenge. While some industries may push for change through collective agreements, broad nationwide reform would require significant adjustments in labor laws and economic policies.

For now, the future of South Africa’s workweek remains uncertain—but the conversation is far from over.

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