UIF Extends Service Hours at Selected Points in Response to Increased Demand

uFiling is an essential platform where clients and employers manage UIF benefits, register companies, declare employees, and make contributions.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has announced that several service points will operate on Saturdays throughout September to accommodate increased demand for services. This decision follows the Pretoria High Court's interim interdict at the end of August 2024, which temporarily halted the implementation of a new support and maintenance contract for the uFiling platform, affecting online services.

uFiling is an essential platform where clients and employers manage UIF benefits, register companies, declare employees, and make contributions. While uFiling is suspended, the main UIF system, which processes claims, remains operational. Since the suspension, the UIF has processed more than 181,000 claims, resulting in payouts totaling R419,607,185.

To address the service demand, UIF service points will operate from 07:30 to 16:00 at selected labour centres across the country during September, 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 Bellville

Employer Registration and Employee Declaration

New employers can register via BizPortal at www.bizportal.gov.za, though this platform only supports employer registration. Employee registration must be completed at a nearby labour centre or by submitting forms to the UIF email services.

Employers can declare their employees through electronic payroll systems or by using manual forms available on the Department of Employment and Labour website. For contributions, employers must pay 2% of the employee's salary (1% from the employer and 1% from the employee) to the UIF before the 7th of each month, or on the last business day if the 7th falls on a non-business day.

The department emphasized that by extending working hours and enhancing service operations, the UIF aims to maintain smooth claim processing while alternative online solutions are developed.