How the R22,466.74 Monthly Earnings Threshold Affects Your Basic Rights
Each year the Minister of Employment and Labour publishes a new earnings threshold under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). For 2026, employees earning above R22,466.74 per month (before certain exclusions) fall on the upper side of the threshold for some BCEA protections.
What changes above the threshold
Higher earners may lose specific automatic BCEA entitlements such as ordinary overtime and Sunday/public holiday premium pay rules, while retaining core protections around leave, notice, and termination pay. Always check your contract and any sectoral determination.
CCMA and unfair dismissal
The earnings threshold does not remove your right to challenge an unfair dismissal at the CCMA under the LRA. Dismissal fairness is assessed separately from wage-threshold mechanics.
Practical steps
- Confirm your gross monthly remuneration on recent payslips.
- Compare your package to the published 2026 threshold notice.
- If overtime or leave was denied incorrectly, gather time records and demand a written explanation.
Use FairPlay AI to map your pay level to the BCEA rules that still apply to you.