Learnership Stipend Rates.
The Learnership Stipend Rates Increase According to NQF Level
This stipend rates table lists pay per qualification level. If you are on NQF level 1, the starting pay is R120 per week and it increases from there.
What is a Stipend?
A stipend is a fixed amount of money paid to someone, often as a form of compensation for training. So in the context of learnerships, stipend rates refer to the amount of money paid to learners and the NQF Level of the learnership program.
What are the Learnership Stipend Rates?
Click here for the calculated Minimum Wage and Learnership Stipends for 2024. The stipend rates for learnerships can vary from one employer to another. For example, a stipend rate can depend on various factors such as the sector, the level of the learnership, and the duration of the program. However, the Skills Development Act sets minimum stipend rates that are periodically reviewed.
The current stipend rates for learnerships, for example, range from R1,500 to R4,500 per month. Because this is based on the NQF level of the learnership, NQF Level 1 learnerships receive the lowest stipend, and NQF Level 5 learnerships receive the highest.
Note that stipends are a means to provide support to learners during their training. As a result, stipends don’t equate to a full-time income. Learners are encouraged to continue to seek other forms of financial support, such as bursaries or scholarships. These can supplement your income while participating in a learnership.
Learnership Stipend Rates Table
Employers may not pay less than these amounts but they can pay more.
The Minimum Learnership Stipend Rates
| Exit level of learnership | Credit already earned by learner | Percentage of wage to be paid as allowance | Minimum allowance per week | Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous year’s minimum allowances per week + CPI (Excluding Owner’s Equivalent Rent) | 0 – 120 | 35% | R204.47 | Previous years minimum allowances per week + CPI (Excluding Owner’s Equivalent Rent) |
| 121 – 240 | 69% | R408.92 | ||
| NQF 3 | 0 – 120 | 17% | R204.47 | |
| 121 – 240 | 40% | R385.10 | ||
| 241 – 360 | 53% | R630.45 | ||
| NQF 4 | 0 – 120 | 13% | R204.47 | |
| 121 – 240 | 25% | R408.92 | ||
| 241 – 360 | 53% | R630.45 | ||
| 361 – 480 | 56% | R920.09 | ||
| NQF 5 to 8 | 0 – 120 | 8% | R204.47 | |
| 120 – 240 | 18% | R442.99 | ||
| 240 – 360 | 27% | R662.81 | ||
| 361 – 480 | 38% | R933.74 | ||
| 481 – 600 | 49% | R1192.70 |
The Learnership Allowance and Minimum Stipend Rates
| Stipend According to NQF Level | Weekly |
|---|---|
| NQF Level 1 to 2 – Credits earned 1-120 Per month, ZAR1,656.44 | ZAR382.55 |
| NQF Level 1 to 2 – Credits earned 121-240 Per month, ZAR3,312.71 | ZAR765.06 |
| NQF Level 3 – Credits earned 1-120 Per month, ZAR1,656.44 | ZAR382.55 |
| NQF Level 3 – Credits earned 121-240 Per month, ZAR3,119.72 | ZAR720.49 |
| NQF Level 3 – Credits earned 241-360 Per month, ZAR4,674.24 | ZAR1,079.50 |
| NQF Level 4 – Credits earned 1-120 Per month, ZAR1,656.44 | ZAR382.55 |
| NQF Level 4 – Credits earned 121-240 Per month, ZAR3,313.01 | ZAR765.13 |
| NQF Level 4 – Credits earned 241-360 Per month, ZAR4,674.24 | ZAR1,079.50 |
| NQF Level 4 – Credits earned 361-480 Per month, ZAR7,453.71 | ZAR1,721.41 |
| NQF Level 5 to 8 – Credits earned 1-120 Per month, ZAR1,656.44 | ZAR382.55 |
| NQF Level 5 to 8 – Credits earned 121-240 Per month, ZAR3,588.70 | ZAR828.80 |
| NQF Level 5 to 8 – Credits earned 241-360 Per month, ZAR5,369.46 | ZAR1,240.06 |
| NQF Level 5 to 8 – Credits earned 361-480 Per month, ZAR7,564.34 | ZAR1,746.96 |
| NQF Level 5 to 8 – Credits earned 481-600 Per month, ZAR9,662.22 | ZAR2,231.46 |
How Much is Your Learnership Stipend?
How much stipend are you being paid? Tell us in the comments and send us copies of contracts. Let’s check if you’re getting fair treatment.
Are you an employee or learner?
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
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Send us your employment or learnership contract so we can determine how industry treats learners.
my contract under yes programme ended last year we were earning R4500 then the company we were trained under decided to extend but the amount did not change is that fair?
hi how do i apply for stipend from seta.
My daughter was ill and they deducted the days that I was absent. All Dr’s notes were given to the team leader. I received less than 50% of my stipend, is this legal?
Hi Ashley!
Minimum pay is regulated. This means we don’t have to debate what’s fair as it’s legislated, is your pay below the stipend rates? However, fair can come into play depending on the sector your learnership/apprenticeship/internship is in, the job you are doing, what the job is worth, your knowledge and skill levels, time on the job, time to learn etc.
When pay is raised during the application process, you must try to negotiate for more stipend.
is it fair to earn R1500 per month as stipend while you are funded by SETA?
I didn’t reserve my stipend last month’s even this month’s