Starting 1 May 2026, there is a big change coming for employees in South Africa. The government has increased the "Earnings Threshold", the specific amount of money that acts as a dividing line for your legal rights at work. If you earn less than this amount, the law automatically gives you a lot of protections (like guaranteed overtime pay). If you earn more than this amount, your rights regarding working hours and extra pay are decided by your contract rather than by the la