UIF Domestic Worker & Government Employees (2024)

UIF domestic workers are part of the UIF work scheme, they play a role in the UIF fund as they contribute as well to the program excluding government employees. Though there are a set of persons that are excluded from the UIF, you must take note of them.

UIF Domestic Worker

A domestic worker is someone whose job is mainly to do a domestic job in a household. Gardeners, people employed as drivers of motor vehicles, and people who take care of children, the aged, the sick, and the disabled also fall within the domestic worker category. Domestic workers are those who are employed or supplied by employment services.

Employing a domestic worker you can register them for the UIF and some rules have been stated in the case of domestic workers which you should stick to or follow. A domestic worker may not be made to; work more than 45 hours a week, work more than nine hours per day for a five-day work week, or work more than eight hours a day for a six-day work week.

During overtime, your Domestic worker may not work more than 15 hours per week overtime, but also not work more than 12 hours on any given day including overtime.  One and a half times the employee’s normal wage has to be paid when he or she works overtime, or an employee may agree to paid time off.

Each public holiday must be well respected by you and you must do well to give your workers days off by then. In the UIF for domestic workers, there are different kinds of leave an employee must know about which are annual leave, maternity leave, sick leave and family responsibility leave. All of this must be strictly adhered to by the employer and there are certain procedures to follow before you terminate the employment of a domestic worker all of the reasons are things they should know about.

UIF for Government Employees

Government employees do not pay the UIF. It is important to note this that once you are for the government you are not entitled to contribute to the UIF as you are exempted from receiving any of its benefits. The short-term relief that is given to workers in the UIF is not eligible for government employees as there are other benefits that they enjoy while working for the government. Those who have been exempted from the UIF should know this as it is not necessary to make any contribution to the fund while working, you will not be able to receive any benefits or apply for any claims when the need arises.

UIF Registration Domestic Worker

It is important that as an employer you register your domestic workers for the UIF as they are part of the system and the UIF has also stated that domestic workers are entitled to the same benefits of the UIF as commercial employees. There are several ways you can register your employee through any of the following methods which will be listed here; telephonically at 012 337 1680. E-mail at domestics@uif.gov.za, Mail to: The UIF. Pretoria. 0052 or you can visit your nearest Labour Centre to get more details.

UIF Domestic Workers Back Payments

The UIF domestic workers’ back payments can be paid to the UIF. Your Domestic employee’s back payments can be made to the UIF Department either in advance which would save time or you can make payments monthly. All late payments can also be paid to the Department of Labour. Note: Commercial employers cannot make payments in advance.

UIF Domestic Workers Payments

As an employer, it is important that you pay your UIF domestic workers’ contribution. This can be done easily by deducting the required 1% from their salary and 1% from yours as well making it a 2% monthly contribution.

Register for UIF Domestic Worker

You can register your UIF for domestic workers on the uFiling platform. This platform has made the UIF registration to be plain and simple but there are certain documents which will be needed from you to fill out and submit.

• You will need to get your ID form ready, make sure you fill in all the appropriate open boxes.
• You are to fill in the UI-8D and UI-19 for domestic employers. You will be asked to fill in a reference number when registering on the platform and if you do not have one for yourself or your employees then you should hold on as one will be generated and sent to you.
• After filling and registering the form you can then send it back via email as a response will be given to you. webmasters@uif.gov.za

UIF Domestic Workers Termination

Before the termination of your domestic workers, there are some procedures that the UIF has s stated need to be followed. As long as you are an employer you cannot easily terminate the employment of your domestic workers and there are processes to that. It must be understood that the services of an employee may not be terminated unless a valid and fair reason exists and fair procedure is followed.

If an employee is dismissed without a valid reason or a fair procedure, the employee may approach the CCMA for assistance. If a domestic worker is unable to return to work due to disability, the employer must investigate the nature of the disability and ascertain whether or not it is permanent or temporary. The employer must try to accommodate the employee as far as possible for example, by amending or adapting their duties to suit the disability.

However, if it is not possible for the employer to adapt the domestic workers’ duties and/or to find alternatives, then such an employer may terminate the services of the domestic worker. The Labour Relations Act, 66 of 1995 sets out the procedures to be followed at the termination of services in the Code of Good Practice, in Schedule 8.

How do I pay UIF for my Domestic Worker?

You can pay UIF for domestic workers on the uFiling platform which is a total of 2% from you and your employee.

Failure to Register Domestic Worker for UIF

If you fail to register your domestic worker for UIF there are consequences to that and they will be held accountable. The employer will be liable for a penalty and interest on the arrears but will avoid further legal consequences for breaching the law. Keep in mind that if an employer hasn’t registered their domestic worker on time, they are not allowed to deduct any outstanding amounts from their salary

Part-time Domestic Worker UIF

Some workers work part-time and they should be registered with the UIF as well but under some conditions. Any employee who works more than 27 hours per month must be registered for UIF. So, if your domestic worker works more than 27 hours a month for you, you must register as a contributor with UIF and register your domestic worker as your employee, also known as a beneficiary.

UIF Employee Registration

It is advisable to register your employee in the UIF and we have listed the procedures up there. It is important to know the steps and procedures that are needed to carry out all of this.

Closing

All information about UIF domestic workers has been talked about in this article. We have given you all information that is needed on how to register your domestic employees, how to know if part-time domestic workers need UIF and the consequences of not registering your workers for any of this.