13th month pay entitlement for 2025   |29 November 2025

The Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning has informed all employers and workers from working organisations in the private sector that the government has approved a new amendment to the existing law regulating the 13th month pay, which is to be effective as of the year 2025.

The payment will be equivalent to a worker’s basic monthly salary up to R45,450 and will be paid in full. It will not be subject to performance-based deductions and will be exempt from tax. The deadline for payment will be January 31, 2026.

Note that by law, foreign workers, trainees on Skills Development, and workers on probation remain ineligible to a 13th month pay. The recent circular by the Public Service Bureau is applicable only to workers employed by the government in the public service.

This communiqué serves to advise organisations in the private sector of the government’s decision so that they can prepare for its introduction while the necessary law is being formulated for presentation to the National Assembly to give effect to this decision.

Further details will be provided to the general public once the law has been passed by the National Assembly.

Press Release - Ministry of Employment and Human Resource Planning