Mugg & Bean, a well-known South African restaurant chain, has found itself under fire after a screenshot of a waiter’s payslip sparked outrage on social media.

The viral post, which surfaced on Facebook, revealed what many saw as an unfairly low salary for one of their employees, leading to public outcry and a heated discussion about worker wages in the restaurant industry.

Viral Payslip Causes Public Outrage

The controversy began when an anonymous waiter shared a screenshot of their payslip from December.

According to the post, the waiter took home less than R1,500 after nearly R3,000 was deducted from their salary.

Social media users quickly seized on the post, expressing disbelief and anger over the apparent low wages.

Prominent entertainment blogger Phil Mphela also weighed in, tweeting his disappointment with Mugg & Bean’s treatment of its workers and calling for change.

His tweet gained traction and further fueled the debate on social media.

Mugg & Bean Responds with Official Statement

As the backlash grew, Mugg & Bean responded to the allegations, claiming that the situation was being misrepresented.

The restaurant’s official statement on Twitter asserted that the claims of low pay were only “half-truths” and did not include the full context.

According to the company, the employee in question had received a salary advance and a deduction for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), which was taken to support the employee over the holiday period.

The remaining balance was paid at the end of the month according to their payroll schedule.

This response has done little to quell the criticism, as many feel the explanation doesn’t address the core issue of low wages in the restaurant industry.

Minimum Wage Increase on the Horizon

Amid the controversy, there’s a potential silver lining for workers in South Africa.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nomakhosazana Meth, has announced plans to increase the national minimum wage starting on March 1, 2025.

The current minimum wage stands at R27.58 per hour, but the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission has proposed raising it to R28.79 per hour, which would translate to a monthly income of R5,182.20 for a full-time worker.

This proposal aims to address rising inflation and improve workers’ wages, but it remains to be seen how much impact it will have on industries like hospitality, where low pay is often a concern.