Peer-reviewed article
The cost of care: Payment delays and socioeconomic pressures facing early childhood development practitioners in South Africa
Matshidiso Sello ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looks at delayed salary payments among early childhood development (ECD) practitioners in South Africa. It uses nationally representative survey data from 2021 on 2288 practitioners. Being a household breadwinner and living in a large household were linked to a higher chance of late pay, while workplace support, referrals and mentoring were linked to a lower chance. The authors argue that formal contracts, fair wages and consistent payment are needed to support quality early learning.
Key points
- Being a breadwinner significantly increased the likelihood of delayed salary payment (OR = 1.33, p = .009).
- Practitioners in households of nine or more members were more likely to report delayed pay (OR = 2.74, p < .001).
- Workplace support was linked to lower odds of delayed pay (OR = 0.65, p < .001).
- Access to special referrals and mentoring also significantly reduced the odds of delayed pay.
- The authors call for a coordinated, intersectoral community of practice and for formalised employment conditions, stable contracts and fair wages.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, so it shows associations and cannot show that any factor causes or prevents delayed pay. It focuses on practitioners' working conditions and does not measure outcomes for children directly.
Abstract
Early childhood development (ECD) practitioners are at core of care and overall well-being for children in ECD centers. Despite their importance, ECD practitioners’ psychosocial well-being is often overlooked in policy and research. While prior studies have documented challenges such as low pay and limited career progression, less attention has been given to the problem of delayed salary payments. This is an often overlooked form of economic insecurity that disproportionately affects women and household breadwinners. This study aimed to explore the interplay between salary payment and ECD practitioners’ work conditions, economic insecurity, and professional recognition. The cross-sectional, nationally representative Thrive by Five Index data collected in 2021 among 2288 ECD practitioners were analyzed. Data were analyzed at the univariate, bivariate, and multivariable levels. Using logistic regression, the outcome of the study was delayed salary payment. The findings showed that being a breadwinner significantly increased the likelihood of delayed salary payment (OR = 1.33, p = .009). Practitioners residing in large households (nine or more members) were also significantly more likely to report delayed salary payments (OR = 2.74, p < .001). Conversely, the presence of workplace support (OR = 0.65, p < .001) and access to special referrals and mentoring significantly reduced the odds of delayed salary payment. This study highlights that delayed salary payment among ECD practitioners is associated with poor working conditions, income insecurity, and lack of professional recognition. A coordinated, intersectoral community of practice involving government departments, ECD centers, and parents is essential. Such collaboration should focus on ensuring equitable access to ECD services and promoting supportive working environments. Importantly, the sector must move toward formalizing employment conditions , securing stable contracts, fair wages, and consistent payments for practitioners. Addressing payment delays is not only a labor rights issue but it is essential for delivering quality early learning and achieving equity in ECD.