UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND (UIF)
The UIF is establish to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in South Africa by providing effective short term unemployment insurance to all workers who qualify for unemployment insurance and other related benefits.
REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT, SECTION 56(1))
A company must, as soon as it commences activities as an employer, register with the Fund.
If the employer does not reside in the Republic, or is a body corporate not registered in the Republic, the application must include the particulars of the authorised person who is required to carry out the duties of the employer in terms of section 56 of the Unemployment Insurance Act.
An employer employing a domestic worker for more than 24 hours in a month must also register the employee for UIF. A confirmation is posted to the employer to confirm the successful registration of an employer.
WHO MUST REGISTER
All employers, as well as their employees are obliged to register and contribute to the UIF. However, an employee is excluded from contributing to the UIF if:
- Employed by the employer for less than 24 hours a month
- Receives remuneration under a contract of employment as contemplated in section 18(2) of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No.97 of 1998)
- Employed as an officer or employee in the national or provincial sphere of Government
- Entered the Republic for the purpose of carrying out a contract of service, apprenticeship or learnership within the Republic. If upon termination, the employer is required by law or by the contract of service, apprenticeship or learnership, or by any other agreement or undertaking, to send home that person, or if that person needs to leave the Republic
- The President, Deputy President, a Minister, Deputy Minister, a member of the
National Assembly, a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces, a Premier, a member of an Executive Council or a member of a provincial legislature
- A member of a municipal council, a traditional leader, a member of a provincial
House of Traditional Leaders and a member of the Council of Traditional Leaders.
EMPLOYER TO FURNISH CHANGES TO REGISTRATION INFORMATION (UI ACT SECTION 56(3)
Every employer is obliged, before the 7th day of each month to inform the UIF Commissioner of any changes that might have taken place during the previous month regarding the employment status and employment conditions of its employees.
The Fund has an electronic declaration submission process and information can be viewed on the website www.ufiling.co.za
EMPLOYER TO CONTRIBUTE BASED ON EARNINGS (UI CONTRIBUTIONS ACT SEC 6, 8)
Every employer shall contribute 2% of earnings at the end of each month to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
UNDERSTATEMENT OF EARNINGS BASED CONTRIBUTIONS (UI CONTRIBUTIONS ACT SEC 8, 12, 13)
If the employer understates the earnings of employees and as a result contributes 2% based on the understated earnings, the Director-General of the Department of Labour may impose and recover from an employer a penalty not exceeding 10%. Penalties and interest calculated at the prescribed rate.
APPLICATION FOR COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OR LETTER OF GOOD STANDING
The UIF compliance certificate is issued to employers who have employees, and it serves as confirmation that the employer was complying with all the UIF requirements at the date of issuing the certificate. The certificate is valid for a period of twelve months from the date of issue.
To obtain the compliance certificate please send your application to compliance@uif.gov.za on the completed UI prescribed form. For SARS employers (i.e. employers paying UIF contributions through SARS), the application must be accompanied by a valid SARS Tax Clearance Certificate.
The letter of good standing is issued to applicants who do not have employees. The certificate is also valid for a period of twelve months and the application process is the same as in the application for the compliance certificate.
INQUIRIES
Call (012) 337 1680