South Africa’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) increased from R25.42 to R27.58 per hour in March 2024 marking a crucial step toward fairer pay. According to the Employment and Labour Department this increase represents a floor level designed to protect workers from exploitation, but as inflation continues to outpace earnings, the reality remains that a minimum wage is not always a living wage.
As South Africa’s National Minimum Wage Commission considers future increases for 2026, the focus is shifting toward wage models that rise above inflation and keep pace with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to help workers retain purchasing power.
Across the globe, 432 million small-scale farms produce nearly 46% of the world’s food, yet most farmers still struggle to earn enough to cover essential needs such as food, housing, education, healthcare, and transport. This stark imbalance highlights why fair compensation and living wages, not just minimum wages, are crucial for sustainable livelihoods.
“Paying workers a wage they can live on is not just a legal or economic issue. It’s a matter of human dignity,” says Ndlovu. “A living wage means that individuals can cover basic needs without falling into a cycle of poverty. South Africa’s current minimum wage improvements are a step in the right direction, but we must continue pushing for wage structures that truly support a decent standard of living.”
Fairtrade Africa’s standards ensure that producers receive both a guaranteed minimum price and a Fairtrade Premium, additional funds invested directly into community development initiatives such as building schools, improving healthcare access, and advancing sustainable agriculture. These measures create opportunity, resilience, and long-term prosperity.
“Millions of workers in producing countries struggle daily to make ends meet despite being at the heart of global supply chains worth billions,” Ndlovu adds. “Fairtrade advocates for a world where farmers and workers can achieve a living income, which not only respects their labour but strengthens their communities.”
Join the Movement and Be Fair Right Now
Running from November 2025 to mid-January 2026, the ‘Be Fair Right Now’ campaign gives South Africans the chance to take a stand for fairness and have fun while doing it.
Participants can complete the interactive Fairtrade Quiz, discover how fair their purchases really are, and stand a chance to win Fairtrade hampers or the ultimate Fairtrade Experience, an all-inclusive weekend getaway in the Cape Winelands.
Whether it’s coffee, tea, chocolate, or wine, every Fairtrade-certified product purchased helps build fairer and sustainable supply chains preserving resources, fairer wages, and fairer futures.
Take the Fairtrade Quiz
To enter, South Africans over the age of 18 can visit https://befairrightnow-sa.org, complete the quiz, and submit their email address.