By Phenyo Selinda
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has announced the extension of operating hours at selected service points across the country during September 2024. This decision follows an interim interdict issued by the Pretoria High Court in late August, preventing the implementation of a new contract for the maintenance and support of the uFiling platform, the online system used by clients and employers for UIF claims, registrations, and payments. As a result, the platform has been suspended, necessitating the extension of service hours to manage the increased demand for real-time services at UIF service points.
Extended Operating Hours and Service Points
The UIF service points will now be open on Saturdays from 07:30 to 16:00 in several regions, including:
• Eastern Cape: Gqeberha, East London, and Qonce
• KwaZulu-Natal: Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay
• Mpumalanga: Emalahleni, Secunda, Middleburg, Malelane, and Mbombela
• North West: Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, Lichtenburg, Klerksdorp, Vryburg, Christiana, Brits, Taung, and Rustenburg
• Western Cape: Cape Town, Paarl, Mitchells Plain, and BellvilleThis extension aims to manage the increased demand for UIF services while uFiling remains offline.
UIF Claim Processing During Suspension
Despite the suspension of uFiling, the UIF has managed to process over 181,000 claims across the country, resulting in payouts totaling R419 million. The department has reassured the public that through careful queue management, monitoring of operations, and the repurposing of staff, it has been able to handle the surge in claim volumes effectively.
Registration of Employers and Employees
Employers can continue to register through the BizPortal for new employer registrations, while employees must visit their nearest labour centre for registration services. Additionally, employers can declare their employees using electronic payroll systems or by manually submitting UI.19 forms through the department’s provided email services.
Contributions and Compliance
Employers are reminded to pay their contributions to the UIF by the 7th of every month. If the 7th falls on a weekend or public holiday, payments must be made on the last business day. Contributions are split between the employee and employer, with each contributing 1% of the employee’s salary. Employers registered for tax or the Skills Development Levy (SDL) are required to make these payments directly to the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
The UIF’s management is confident that the extended hours and operational adjustments will maintain service delivery while alternative online solutions are developed to replace the uFiling platform.
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