Today, 8 March, is globally celebrated as the International Women’s Day. On this day, SERI is raising awareness on the rights of domestic workers. Domestic work is the largest source of employment for black women in South Africa. Their care work and household work enables others to carry out their own jobs, is essential to the functioning of families all over the country, and is a significant contribution to the national economy.
SERI, in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, hosted an annual commemorative dialogue to mark the anniversary of the landmark Constitutional Court judgment in Mahlangu v Minister of Labour since the judgment. The landmark judgment saw the inclusion of domestic workers in the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA) and allowed for the findings to apply retrospectively.
The judgment has significant implications for the domestic workers of South Africa: not only can domestic workers and dependants who experience work-related injuries, diseases, and death claim from the Compensation Fund, but those domestic workers and dependants who have experienced work-related injuries, diseases or death as far back as 27 April 1994 are also able to submit claims.
On 22 November 2023, the dialogue entitled, "Three Years after Mahlangu: Taking Stock of Domestic Work in South Africa" brought together government, civil society organisations representing domestic workers and employers, and members of the public to discuss key issues in the sector and collectively explore solutions. The central concern voiced by the keynote speaker and the panellists was the low number of domestic worker COIDA claims being processed, which was approximately 14 according to the latest information SERI obtained from the Compensation Fund, and the low number of registrations by employers of domestic workers.
SERI is calling for domestic workers who have experienced a workplace injury or contracted a disease, and dependents of domestic workers who died due to a workplace injury/disease to:
- WhatsApp 082 590 9492 and follow the prompts.
- Call 011 356 5860.
We will then provide you with advice and assist you with the submission process for your claim.