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Domestic Worker Job Description Templates: Housekeeper, Nanny and Gardener
Most friction between households and domestic workers starts with fuzzy expectations: was washing the cars ever part of the job? Who said babysitting on Saturday nights was included? A one-page written job description settles those questions before they become disputes. Below are three ready-to-adapt templates — housekeeper, nanny and gardener — designed to attach as Annexure A to your employment contract.
Last reviewed June 2026 · wage figures from 1 March 2026
ANNEXURE A: JOB DESCRIPTION
(Attach to the employment contract between [EMPLOYER FULL NAME] and [EMPLOYEE FULL NAME], dated [CONTRACT DATE].)
=== TEMPLATE 1: HOUSEKEEPER / DOMESTIC WORKER ===
Job title: Housekeeper
Reports to: [EMPLOYER NAME / OTHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBER]
Days and hours: as set out in clause 4 of the employment contract ([DAYS], [TIMES]).
Purpose: to keep the home at [WORKPLACE ADDRESS] clean, laundered and organised.
1. CLEANING
1.1 Daily: tidy and dust living areas; sweep/vacuum and mop floors; clean kitchen surfaces, sink and stove top; clean bathrooms (basins, toilets, baths/showers, mirrors); empty bins.
1.2 Weekly: change bed linen; clean inside windows in [ROOMS]; clean fridge exterior and microwave; polish furniture; [OTHER WEEKLY TASKS].
1.3 Monthly: deep-clean oven; clean inside fridge; wash curtains/wipe blinds in rotation; [OTHER MONTHLY TASKS].
2. LAUNDRY AND IRONING
2.1 Wash, dry, iron and put away household laundry on [DAYS].
2.2 Hand-wash delicate items as marked; report any damage immediately.
3. KITCHEN SUPPORT
3.1 Wash dishes / load and unload dishwasher.
3.2 [OPTIONAL: prepare the following meals: DETAILS / "No cooking duties"].
4. OTHER DUTIES
4.1 Receive deliveries; water indoor plants; [OTHER AGREED TASKS].
4.2 The following are NOT part of this job: [e.g. pet care, washing vehicles, childcare, garden work].
5. HOUSE RULES AND STANDARDS
5.1 Keys/alarm: [ARRANGEMENT]. Breakages must be reported the same day (no deduction without written consent).
5.2 Personal phone use: [ARRANGEMENT]. Visitors during working hours: [ARRANGEMENT].
Review date: [DATE, 12 months from signing]
Signed: EMPLOYER ______________ EMPLOYEE ______________ DATE ______________
=== TEMPLATE 2: NANNY / CHILDMINDER ===
Job title: Nanny
Reports to: [PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME]
Days and hours: as set out in clause 4 of the employment contract ([DAYS], [TIMES]).
Purpose: to provide safe, attentive care for [CHILD/CHILDREN'S NAME(S) AND AGE(S)] at [WORKPLACE ADDRESS].
1. CHILDCARE
1.1 Supervise the child(ren) at all times while on duty; never leave them unattended in the bath, pool area or street.
1.2 Follow the daily routine: [WAKE/NAP/MEAL/HOMEWORK ROUTINE].
1.3 Prepare the child(ren)'s meals and snacks: [DETAILS]; note allergies: [ALLERGIES / "None"].
1.4 Bath, dress and toilet/nappy duties as age-appropriate.
1.5 Administer medication ONLY as instructed in writing: [MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS / "None"].
1.6 Age-appropriate play, reading and outdoor time; screen time limited to [LIMIT].
1.7 School/creche transport: [WALK / ACCOMPANY IN LIFT SCHEME / "Not applicable"]. [OPTIONAL: school pick-up at TIME].
2. CHILD-RELATED HOUSEHOLD TASKS
2.1 Children's laundry; tidy play and sleep areas; wash bottles and lunchboxes.
2.2 General housekeeping is [INCLUDED AS FOLLOWS: DETAILS / "NOT part of this job"].
3. SAFETY AND EMERGENCIES
3.1 Emergency contacts: [PARENT NUMBERS]; doctor: [NAME AND NUMBER]; ambulance: 10177 / 112.
3.2 Report all accidents, injuries or illness to a parent immediately.
3.3 No visitors while caring for the child(ren) without prior permission; the child(ren) may not be taken off the property except as agreed: [AGREED OUTINGS].
4. EVENINGS AND EXTRA HOURS
4.1 Evening babysitting is voluntary, agreed in advance, and paid as overtime at 1.5× the hourly wage (double on Sundays if Sunday work is not ordinarily worked).
Review date: [DATE]
Signed: EMPLOYER ______________ EMPLOYEE ______________ DATE ______________
=== TEMPLATE 3: GARDENER ===
Job title: Gardener
Reports to: [EMPLOYER NAME]
Days and hours: as set out in clause 4 of the employment contract ([DAYS], [TIMES], e.g. one day per week).
Purpose: to maintain the garden and outdoor areas at [WORKPLACE ADDRESS].
1. GARDEN MAINTENANCE
1.1 Mow lawns and trim edges every [FREQUENCY].
1.2 Weed beds, paving and gravel areas; prune shrubs and hedges in season.
1.3 Water garden and pot plants according to: [WATERING SCHEDULE / IRRIGATION INSTRUCTIONS].
1.4 Rake leaves; remove garden refuse to [COMPOST HEAP / MUNICIPAL BAGS]; put refuse out on [COLLECTION DAY].
1.5 Planting and feeding as instructed: [DETAILS].
2. OUTDOOR AREAS
2.1 Sweep/hose patios, paths and driveway; clean outdoor furniture and braai area.
2.2 Pool area: [SKIM AND EMPTY BASKETS / "Pool serviced separately — not part of this job"].
2.3 [OPTIONAL: wash vehicles: DETAILS / "Not applicable"].
3. TOOLS AND SAFETY
3.1 Use and clean the Employer's tools: [LIST, e.g. mower, trimmer]; report faults and never use damaged electrical equipment.
3.2 The Employer supplies protective gear: [GLOVES / BOOTS / EYE PROTECTION]; it must be worn for [TASKS].
3.3 Chemicals (weedkiller, fertiliser, pool chemicals) only as instructed and stored locked away: [STORAGE PLACE].
3.4 Any work-related injury must be reported to the Employer immediately (the Employer is registered with the Compensation Fund under COIDA).
4. EXCLUSIONS
4.1 The following are NOT part of this job: [e.g. tree felling, building work, indoor cleaning].
Review date: [DATE]
Signed: EMPLOYER ______________ EMPLOYEE ______________ DATE ______________
Why a written job description protects both parties
South African law already pushes you in this direction. Sectoral Determination 7 requires the written particulars you give a domestic worker to include her occupation or a brief description of the work she is employed to do. The official Department of Employment and Labour sample contract goes further, attaching a full duties checklist — because a job title alone ("domestic worker") tells nobody what the job actually involves.
For the employer, a signed duties list is your reference point if performance slips: you can manage against agreed tasks rather than vague impressions, which matters if a dispute ever reaches the CCMA. For the worker, it is protection against scope creep — the slow accumulation of extra duties (pets, cars, the neighbour's flat) with no extra pay. When a new task genuinely is needed, the job description forces the right conversation: agree the change in writing, and adjust hours or pay if the workload grows.
A job description is not a contract on its own. It records what the work is; your domestic worker employment contract records the wage, hours, leave, UIF and notice terms the law requires. Use them together — the templates below are written to slot in as Annexure A.
What to include in a domestic worker job description
Keep it to one page per role and make every line something you could point to in a review conversation.
- Job title and a one-sentence purpose (e.g. "keep the household clean, laundered and organised").
- Core duties, grouped by area (cleaning, laundry, kitchen, childcare, garden) with frequency — daily, weekly, monthly.
- Tasks explicitly excluded, to stop scope creep (e.g. "does not include pet care or washing vehicles").
- Who the worker reports to and how instructions are given.
- Days and hours, cross-referenced to the contract — remember the legal ceiling of 45 ordinary hours a week.
- Standards and house rules: keys and alarm, breakage reporting, phone use, visitors.
- For nannies: each child's name and age, routines, medication or allergy notes, and emergency contacts.
- A review date and signature lines for both parties.
How to use these templates
Pick the block that matches the role, delete duties that do not apply, and add anything specific to your household — it is far better to delete than to leave a generic list that nobody follows. If one person genuinely covers two roles (a housekeeper who also does school pick-ups, say), merge the relevant duties into one document rather than signing two, and make sure the combined workload still fits inside the contracted hours.
Walk through the final list with your worker before signing, in a language she fully understands, and give her a copy. Then diarise a quick annual review — the same March check-in where you adjust the wage for the new national minimum wage (R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026) is a natural moment to confirm the duties list still matches reality.
Changing duties later: do it in writing
Households change — a baby arrives, someone starts working from home, the garden gets paved. When duties shift materially, update the job description, have both parties sign and date the new version, and attach it to the contract in place of the old annexure. If the change adds real workload or hours, adjust pay at the same time; overtime beyond ordinary hours must in any event be agreed and paid at one and a half times the wage. Imposing significant new duties unilaterally is how good working relationships sour and how employers end up on the wrong side of a dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Is a job description legally required for a domestic worker?
The written particulars required by Sectoral Determination 7 must state the worker's occupation or a brief description of the work — so yes, you must describe the job in writing. A detailed annexure like these templates satisfies that requirement properly and is the format used in the Department of Employment and Labour's own sample contract.
Can I add new duties after the worker has started?
Only by agreement. Update the job description, have both of you sign the revised version, and adjust pay or hours if the workload increases. Significant duties imposed unilaterally can amount to an unfair change to conditions of employment.
My housekeeper also looks after the kids some afternoons. One document or two?
One. Merge the relevant housekeeper and nanny duties into a single signed annexure so the total job is visible in one place, and check that the combined load fits inside her contracted hours — ordinary hours may not exceed 45 a week.
Does a gardener who comes one day a week need all this paperwork?
Yes — a one-day-a-week gardener is still an employee. He needs written particulars with a description of the work, at least the minimum wage (R30.23/hour, with a minimum of 4 hours' pay per day worked), and UIF registration once he works more than 24 hours a month for you.
What if my worker can't read the job description?
The same rule as the contract applies: explain it orally, in a language and manner she understands, before signing. An unexplained document offers weak protection to either side if there is ever a dispute.