Learnership Allowance 2026: How Much Learners Must Be Paid
In 2026, the legal minimum learnership allowance in South Africa starts at R455 a week (about R1,972 a month) for a learner who has not yet earned any credits, and rises to R2,654.04 a week (about R11,500 a month) for a learner on an NQF level 5–8 learnership who has already earned 481–600 credits. These floors come from Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Wage Act, as updated by Government Gazette No. 54075 of 3 February 2026, and they have applied since 1 March 2026. Employers may pay more, but never less.
This guide explains what the learnership "stipend" really is, the full 2026 rate list, how to work out which band you fall into, and what to do if your employer pays below the minimum.
Stipend, allowance or salary: what learners actually receive
Most adverts call it a "stipend", but the law calls it an allowance. Learners who sign a learnership agreement under section 17 of the Skills Development Act are not paid the ordinary national minimum wage of R30.23 an hour. Instead, the National Minimum Wage Act says they are entitled to the allowances in its Schedule 2. Apprentices are included in the definition of "learner", so the same floors apply to them.
Sectoral Determination 5: Learnerships adds one more rule: the allowance is calculated as a percentage of the "qualified wage" (what the employer would pay you once you hold the qualification), but it may never fall below the minimum weekly amount. In practice, the Schedule 2 figures are the floor every learner can check against.
Learnership allowance rates 2026 (from 1 March 2026)
The minimum weekly allowance depends on two things: the NQF level of the learnership and how many credits you have already earned towards it. Monthly amounts below are Jobsiz's estimate, multiplying the weekly figure by 4.333 (the same weeks-per-month factor the gazette uses for other sectors).
NQF levels 1 to 2
0–120 credits earned: R455.00 a week (about R1,971.52 a month)
121–240 credits earned: R909.94 a week (about R3,942.77 a month)
NQF level 3
0–120 credits: R455.00 a week (about R1,971.52 a month)
121–240 credits: R856.94 a week (about R3,713.12 a month)
241–360 credits: R1,402.87 a week (about R6,078.64 a month)
NQF level 4 (matric-equivalent learnerships)
0–120 credits: R455.00 a week (about R1,971.52 a month)
121–240 credits: R910.04 a week (about R3,943.20 a month)
241–360 credits: R1,402.87 a week (about R6,078.64 a month)
361–480 credits: R2,047.41 a week (about R8,871.43 a month)
NQF levels 5 to 8
0–120 credits: R455.00 a week (about R1,971.52 a month)
121–240 credits: R985.76 a week (about R4,271.30 a month)
241–360 credits: R1,474.90 a week (about R6,390.74 a month)
361–480 credits: R2,077.79 a week (about R9,003.06 a month)
481–600 credits: R2,654.04 a week (about R11,499.96 a month)
Note that the gazette sets the NQF level 3 band for 121–240 credits (R856.94) slightly below the equivalent band at levels 1–2 (R909.94). That is how the official schedule reads; we have reproduced it exactly.
How to work out your own minimum allowance
Find the NQF level of your learnership. It is on your learnership agreement and on the SETA registration of the qualification.
Check how many credits you have already earned towards that qualification. Under SAQA rules, one credit represents about 10 notional hours of learning. Your training provider or employer should be able to give you a statement of results.
Match the two to the list above to get your minimum weekly allowance.
Convert to your pay period. If you are paid monthly, multiply the weekly amount by 4.333 for a close estimate.
Re-check as you progress. When your earned credits move into a higher band, the minimum allowance rises with it.
Example: a learner on a new NQF level 4 business administration learnership, starting with no credits, must receive at least R455 a week, or roughly R1,972 a month. Once that learner has earned more than 120 credits, the floor rises to R910.04 a week.
Other rights learners have under Sectoral Determination 5
The allowance is only part of the deal. Sectoral Determination 5 gives learners who were recruited from outside the company (not existing staff) a set of basic conditions:
Working hours: no more than 45 ordinary hours a week, and no more than nine hours a day if you work five days or fewer a week.
Prompt payment: your allowance must be paid in rand, daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, and no later than seven days after the pay period ends.
No deductions for training costs: the employer may not deduct, or make you repay, anything for tools, materials, equipment, protective clothing, uniforms or training material needed for the learnership.
Sick leave: one day of paid sick leave for every 26 days you work or receive training.
Annual leave: on learnerships of more than 120 credits, one week of paid leave for every 40 credits earned or every four months worked, whichever is the lesser.
Protection from early termination: the contract can only end when the agreed period expires, when you complete the learnership, by written agreement (or SETA approval), or through a fair dismissal for conduct or capacity.
If you were already employed by the company when you signed the learnership agreement, Sectoral Determination 5 does not apply to you in the same way; your existing employment contract and wage continue.
What to do if you are paid less than the minimum
Compare your payslip with your NQF level and credit band above. Keep copies of your learnership agreement and payslips.
Raise it in writing with the employer or HR, quoting Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Wage Act and the 2026 gazette.
Contact the Department of Employment and Labour through a labour centre if the shortfall is not fixed. Its inspectors enforce minimum wage rules.
Refer a dispute to the CCMA if needed. Sectoral Determination 5 says disputes under it can be referred to the CCMA on LRA Form 7.11.
Be wary of "learnerships" that charge you money. A genuine learnership pays you an allowance; it should not ask for an application or placement fee.
Where to find learnerships in South Africa
Learnerships and apprenticeships are advertised by SETAs, large employers and government programmes. On Jobsiz you can start with:
Our guide to the Sasol artisan learnership in Secunda
How to sign up on SAYouth.mobi for youth opportunities
The full national minimum wage rates for 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much is the learnership stipend in South Africa in 2026?
The legal minimum is R455 a week for learners with 0–120 credits, at every NQF level. It rises with your NQF level and earned credits, up to R2,654.04 a week for NQF level 5–8 learners with 481–600 credits. Employers may pay more.
Do learners get the national minimum wage of R30.23 an hour?
No. Workers on a learnership agreement under section 17 of the Skills Development Act are entitled to the learnership allowances in Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Wage Act instead of the general hourly rate.
When did the 2026 learnership allowances start?
The new amounts were published in Government Gazette No. 54075 on 3 February 2026 and took effect on 1 March 2026.
Do apprentices get the same minimum allowance?
Yes. The National Minimum Wage Act's definition of "learner" includes an apprentice, so the same Schedule 2 floors apply.
Can an employer deduct money for uniforms or training material?
No. Sectoral Determination 5 bars employers from deducting, or asking learners to repay, the cost of tools, materials, equipment, protective clothing, uniforms or training material required for the learnership.
Sources
Government Gazette No. 54075, 3 February 2026 – National Minimum Wage adjustments, Schedule 2: Learnership Allowances (Government Printing Works)
Looking for a learnership or first job? Browse South African vacancies on Jobsiz and set up your CV with our free resume builder.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Figures checked against the official gazette on 22 October 2026.
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