INSIGHT 4
Flexible pay keeps workers out of crisis
Access to wages in the moment is often the difference between getting to work and going into debt.
For many South African frontline workers, payday isn’t a welcome monthly milestone. It’s a finish line they barely cross. In between, the gap is bridged with high‑interest loans, borrowing from colleagues or skipping essentials.
From debt trap to breathing space
Earned Wage Access (EWA) changes the equation. Instead of waiting for payday, workers can draw a portion of wages already earned. Urgent costs – a taxi fare, a clinic visit, a week’s groceries – are covered without turning to debt. The effect is practical and psychological: less stress, more stability, better focus.
This year, 73.2% of the workers who had access to EWA through Jem, used it.
Of those:
67.7% used it for transport
Others used it for essentials like food (38.3%), healthcare (19.4%), and airtime/electricity (14.7%)
EWA users reported a sharp decrease in stress – average score 1.98/5 (1 = ‘I worry much less’).
Why it matters
EWA isn’t a perk; it’s a productivity and retention tool. A worker who isn’t worrying about getting to work is more likely to arrive on time, stay engaged and remain with the company longer. Reducing financial shocks reduces operational shocks.
What is Earned Wage Access?
Take your cue from the top
Industry leaders are at the forefront for a reason. Here’s what they do to support their employees beyond their pay slips.
Short-term: EWA offered as a core benefit and steps taken to ensure staff understand how and when to use it. This is paired with guidance so withdrawals remain purposeful and sustainable.
Long-term: EWA embedded in a wider financial wellbeing stack like savings tools, debt support, and transparent pay structures as an investment in a stable and loyal workforce.
