The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will be hosting its Open Day on the 11th and 12th of September 2024 at Empangeni Town Hall. As part of this awareness campaign, we spoke with Mr. Siphamandla Gumede, the Deputy Director of Compliance at UIF, to provide insight into how the UIF works, who is required to contribute, and how eligible individuals can claim their UIF benefits.
During the interview, Mr. Gumede highlighted that the Department of Employment is currently facing a technical challenge as their systems are down. However, these systems are expected to be back online within the next two weeks. Despite this, the department has implemented several measures to mitigate the impact, including extending business hours to ensure services remain accessible.
Mr. Gumede explained to listeners that every individual working more than 24 hours per month must be registered for UIF by their employer. Employers are required to declare their employees’ UIF contributions on a monthly basis. This process should begin on the employee’s first day of work, when they sign their employment contract along with UIF forms. Employers who fail to comply with these requirements may face interventions from the Department of Employment and Labour. This could involve inspections, and if necessary, enforcement measures will be taken to ensure compliance. Employers are given seven days from the signing of an employee’s contract to register them for UIF contributions.
Both the employee and employer contribute 1% of the employee’s salary towards UIF, resulting in a combined total of 2% per month. Employees eligible to claim UIF include those who have been retrenched or whose contracts have expired. However, if an employee voluntarily resigns, they are not eligible to claim UIF benefits.
If you would like more information about UIF or need assistance with UIF-related queries, make sure to visit the Empangeni Town Hall on the 11th or 12th of September for the UIF Open Day. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive on-the-spot assistance. You can catch the whole interview here:
