The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) provides unemployment benefits to employees. Companies that employ people for more than 24 hours a month are required by law to register with the UIF and contribute to the fund. The employer must contribute 2% of the employee’s gross salary every month. This means that the employer deducts 1% from the employee’s gross salary each month and the other 1% is contributed by the employer.

Employees can claim unemployment benefits in cases of dismissal, retrenchment, or when an employment contract has ended. UIF may be claimed for a 12-month period provided that the employee has enough credit days. This means that for every four days worked as a contributor, the employee will receive one day’s credit subject to a maximum of 12 months.

Illness benefits may be claimed by an applicant who is no longer able to work provided that the period of illness is more than 7 days and the application has been made within a 12-month period from the first day of illness.

Maternity benefits may be claimed by an applicant who is unable to work due to being pregnant. This includes delivery and/or immediately after the birth period.

The spouse of a deceased employee may claim dependant’s benefits if an application is made within 18 months of the death of the employee. Parental, adoption and commissioning parental leave benefits are also provided by the UIF.

Employers can register with the UIF online, via email or at the Labour Centre. The procedure for doing so is as follows:

Online Registration

Step 1: Obtain the necessary information such as ID numbers and addresses of employers and employees.

Step 2: Complete the online registration on the UIF website which includes options for commercial employers and employers of domestic workers.

Email Registration

Step 1: Obtain the correct forms from the UIF website i.e. UI-8 and UI-19 (companies) or UI-8D and UI-19 (domestic employers).

Step 2: Employers must complete forms on behalf of the company and the employee. A reference number must be included. This is sent by the UIF to the employer.

Step 3: E-mail the forms to webmaster@uif.gov.za

Registration at the Labour Centre

Step 1: Obtain the necessary information such as ID numbers and addresses of employers and employees.

Step 2: Obtain the correct forms from the Labour Centre i.e. UI-8 and UI-19 (companies) or UI-8D and UI-19 (domestic employers).

Step 3: Fill in the forms. Employers must complete forms on behalf of the company and the employee.  A reference number must be included. This is sent by the UIF to the employer.

Step 4: Hand in the forms to the Labour Centre staff.

Dr Prishana Datadin