he Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has announced UIF extended operating hours at selected service points across the country. These service points will now operate on Saturdays throughout September 2024, following the temporary suspension of the uFiling online platform. This move is intended to ensure that clients and employers can still access critical UIF services while the platform is unavailable.
With the Pretoria High Court’s interim interdict issued in late August 2024, preventing a service provider from implementing a new contract for uFiling’s maintenance and support, the UIF has decided to ramp up in-person services at their regional centres. To meet the demand from employers and beneficiaries who rely on the platform, the UIF extended operating hours at key service points.
Why Are the UIF Extended Operating Hours Important?
uFiling is an essential online platform for managing UIF-related matters. Through uFiling, employers can register their companies with the UIF, declare employees, and make contributions. It also allows individuals to apply for various benefits, including unemployment, maternity, illness, or adoption benefits. However, uFiling is not connected to the main UIF system that handles the adjudication and processing of claims, which means UIF service points have continued processing claims manually since the platform’s suspension.
To address the service disruption, the UIF extended operating hours in September aim to ensure that individuals and employers can still access crucial UIF services at labour centres. The department revealed that the UIF processed over 181,000 claims during the suspension, totalling R419,607,185 in payouts.
UIF Extended Operating Hours: Where and When?
The UIF extended operating hours will apply from 07:30 until 16:00 on Saturdays at the following labour centres throughout September 2024. This extension is designed to accommodate the increased demand for in-person services, providing additional support for employers and individuals affected by the uFiling downtime.
Here are the service points offering extended operating hours:
- Eastern Cape:
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Qonce (King William’s Town)
- KwaZulu-Natal:
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Mpumalanga:
- Emalahleni (Witbank)
- Secunda
- Middleburg
- Malelane
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- North West:
- Mahikeng
- Potchefstroom
- Lichtenburg
- Klerksdorp
- Vryburg
- Christiana
- Brits
- Taung
- Rustenburg
- Western Cape:
- Cape Town
- Paarl
- Mitchells Plain
- Bellville
The UIF extended operating hours will be particularly helpful for those who cannot access UIF services during regular business hours or who are affected by the suspended online platform.
Related: Using the UIF USSD Code to Find the Nearest Labour Centre in 2024
What Services Are Available During UIF Extended Operating Hours?
The UIF service points will provide a range of essential services to clients and employers during the extended operating hours. These include:
- Processing unemployment claims
- Managing maternity, illness, and adoption claims
- Assisting dependents with death benefit claims
- Supporting employers with employee declarations and registrations
These extended hours will help ease the pressure on the system and allow individuals and businesses to address their UIF-related needs without waiting for the online platform to be restored.
How to Register Employers and Declare Employees
Although the uFiling platform is currently down, the UIF has set up alternative methods for employers to register their businesses and declare employees. The UIF extended operating hours at service points provide one way to manage these tasks in person.
Employer Registration:
Employers can still register through the BizPortal (https://www.bizportal.gov.za/services.aspx) for employer-related services. It is important to note that BizPortal is exclusively for employer registration and cannot be used for employee registration.
For employee registrations, employers must either visit their nearest UIF service point or submit the necessary forms via email. The UI.8 and UI.19 forms required for registration can be downloaded from the official website (www.labour.gov.za) and submitted to newui8registrations@labour.gov.za.
Employee Declarations:
Employers can declare their employees using electronic payroll systems by sending live payroll files to Declarations@labour.gov.za. Alternatively, they can visit a nearby labour centre during the UIF extended operating hours to receive assistance with declarations. For manual declarations, employers can download the UI.19 form from the official website and submit it via email to uif.declarations@labour.gov.za.
UIF Contributions: Deadlines and Payments
Employers must make contributions to the UIF before the 7th day of each month. If the 7th falls on a non-business day (such as a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday), payments must be made by the last business day before the 7th. Contributions consist of 2% of the employee’s salary, split between the employee (1%) and the employer (1%).
For employers registered for tax purposes and/or the Skills Development Levy (SDL), contributions should be made directly to the South African Revenue Services (SARS). Employers who are not registered for SDL can still make contributions using the UIF’s banking details, available on the Department of Employment and Labour website, and use their UIF reference number as the payment reference.
Handling Claim Volumes During UIF Extended Operating Hours
The UIF extended operating hours are expected to play a key role in addressing the higher volume of claims caused by the suspension of the uFiling platform. Through effective queue management, operations monitoring, and staff repurposing, the UIF has been able to process a significant number of claims manually. The department remains confident that the extended hours will allow the UIF to continue delivering timely services while alternative online solutions are developed.
By extending service hours to Saturdays, the UIF is better equipped to support employers and individuals during this critical period. The UIF remains committed to providing reliable services, and the UIF extended operating hours will ensure that the Fund can continue to operate efficiently under the current circumstances.
The UIF extended operating hours in September reflect the Department of Employment and Labour’s commitment to ensuring that South Africans continue to receive the support they need during the temporary suspension of the uFiling platform. With extended Saturday hours at select service points, clients and employers can access essential services, including claim processing and employee declarations, while the department works on restoring online systems.
If you’re an employer or a UIF beneficiary, be sure to take advantage of the UIF extended operating hours at a service point near you to ensure your claims and contributions are up to date.