South African domestic workers must be registered for unemployment insurance as from April 1 and BuaNews, the government news agency, has reported that this can now also be done by telephone.
As from Monday Unemployment Insurance Fund call centres go online. Employers can call the number 012 3371680 which will be open six days a week from 8:00 to 18:30.
The pre-registration of workers started on February 24. Workers can also be registered at multi-purpose community centres countrywide or online through the
website www.labour.gov.za
Failure of employers in the domestic sector to register their workers for the fund could result in them facing a R5 000 rand fine and a jail term not exceeding five years.
According to the labour department, workers who have been dismissed or retrenched will be able to claim benefits from the UIF after 14 days after the last day of work. The fund also provides maternity and adoption benefits and offers relief to dependents of deceased contributors.
In terms of the new UIF Act, a domestic worker who earns R800 rand a month will contribute eight rand (one percent of his/her monthly income) a month and the employee will contribute the same amount to the UIF.
Even a domestic or seasonal worker, including gardeners, who puts in more than 24 hours a month, has to be registered.
BuaNews reports that to register, both the employer and employee should have the 13 digit bar-coded ID documents, the address, telephone numbers and details of workers’ salaries and address of where they are employed.
The fund has also adopted electronic installation or payroll information to ensure better service, the government news agency reported. – I-Net-Bridge