Private health-care will be available to domestic workers nation-wide at a cost of R170 to the employer, according to a report on Tuesday.
Employers would be able to provide their domestic workers with occupational and private primary health-care through DomestiCare, the Star reported.
DomestiCare is a new health-care scheme that was launched by CareCross Health in February.
What it includes
The health-care that would be available to helpers include GP consultations, medicines, X-rays and blood tests but would exclude chronic medication and hospitalisation, according to the report.
"In addition to immediate benefits of providing primary medical care to low-wage earners, there are long-term benefits for the economy," CareCross Health managing director Dr Reinder Nauta said.
"Keeping the country's work force healthy could dramatically reduce absenteeism and employee turnover; increase employee loyalty, improve productivity and increase employer satisfaction."
The SA Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union said change would not happen until the health department devised a health-care plan for domestic workers, according the newspaper.
SAPA