The Department of Employment and Labor also known as the department of labour is South African arm of government responsible for employment matters, including industrial relations, job creation, unemployment insurance, and occupational health and safety. The department plays a significant role in reducing unemployment, poverty, and inequality through a set of policies and programs to improve the country’s economic efficiency and productivity, create employment opportunities, create sound labour relations, and eliminate inequality. It does so by improving workers’ working conditions and quality of life through laid down principles, schemes, and projects for regulating workers’ work conditions.
How to register as a work-seeker
Work-seekers can register free through Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) or get help at a labour centre. ESSA supports vacancy searches, referrals and a work-seeker profile; registration does not guarantee a job.
Step one: Complete the work-seeker registration form
Register online through the Department of Employment and Labour’s ESSA link or complete the required work-seeker form with assistance at a labour centre. Keep the profile accurate.
Step two: Keep your contact details up to date.
Work-seekers must keep contact with the labour centre and let them know as soon as their details change.
Step three: Be prepared for interviews
Keep your CV up to date and handy. It is important that you prepare and make yourself available for interviews with potential employers.
Department of labour vacancies
For jobs within the Department of Employment and Labour, follow each vacancy advertisement. Use the current Z83 form and provide the CV and documents requested, using the advertised submission method and deadline.
The Department Of Labour Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)
UIF is social insurance providing qualifying contributors with short-term benefits for unemployment and specified leave or illness, and benefits to qualifying dependants after a contributor dies. It is not an individual savings account.
Dismissal, retrenchment or an expired contract can support an unemployment-benefit claim, subject to the rules. Dismissal is not a blanket exclusion. Contribution and benefit eligibility must be assessed under current legislation; older exclusion lists can be outdated.
- Workers employed for less than 24 hours a month by an employer are excluded under the applicable rules.
- Do not assume every public-sector role has identical UIF treatment; check the employment category and current legislation.
- Learnership status is not a blanket current exclusion; the 2016 amendment extended benefit coverage.
- Foreign nationality is not itself a blanket exclusion from UIF; confirm the worker’s coverage under current rules.
- Receiving an old-age pension is not a reliable blanket test of UIF contribution or claim eligibility.
- Commission-only workers have special treatment under the contribution rules; confirm the applicable position with UIF.
- Apply current legislation and the facts of the employment, rather than relying on an old exclusion list.
Ordinarily the employee contributes 1% of remuneration and the employer adds another 1%, subject to the applicable contribution ceiling. The employer’s share must not be deducted from the employee’s pay. Employers must register and declare covered employees.
Step 1: get your data ready
Get the necessary information, including ID numbers and addresses of your workers, before making the trip to your nearest labour centre.
Step 2: get the necessary forms.
UI-8 is the employer registration application, while UI-8D is for a domestic employer. UI-19 declares employee information. Obtain the current forms and instructions from UIF.
Step 3: fill out forms correctly.
Employers are required to fill the forms for themselves and their employees. The registration form for workers would ask for the employer reference number. In the event that the employer does not have a reference number yet, this part can be left empty. UIF will provide a reference number for you. Also, ensure that all information entered is correct.
Step 4: submit!
Hand in the forms to the labour centre staff.
How to check UIF claims status
For UIF benefit applications and status queries, follow the current official UIF online-services link or contact a labour centre. The uFiling landing page currently directs benefit applicants to uifonline.labour.gov.za.
- Visit the UIF official website.
- Select the ‘check my status’ option
- Follow the instructions that will appear on your screen.
- Enter the Captcha number
- Proceed to enter your UIF reference number.
- Alternatively, you can check the status of your claim by emailing your name, identification and UIF reference number to uifcallcenter@labour.gov.za.
- If you may not be able to check the status of your claim online, you can visit the nearest labour office and sign the register. After providing the clerk with your identification and your UIF number, you will be given the status of your UIF claim.
Read Also: How to Apply for South African Police Service (SAPS) Careers
How do I claim UIF?
Requirements and follow-up declarations differ by benefit. Submit the correct claim and supporting documents and follow UIF’s instructions for continuation of payment. Processing and payment times vary; eight weeks is not a guaranteed payment date.
- Copy of a 13 digits identification document
- A copy of your last six payslips
- A UI-19 form, provided to you by your employer
- A service certificate from your employer
- Proof of registration as a work-seeker (see how to register above)
- A fully completed registration form
As mentioned above, the requirements may slightly vary depending on your claim. Visit the nearest labour centre in case of any doubts or for more information.
Department of labour forms
There are several forms that serve different purposes and knowing which form to use for which procedure is absolutely important. Below are some of the forms that you may need:
Form UI-2.8 – bank details supplied for the applicable claim process.
Form UI2.2 – application for illness benefits
Form UI2.4 – application for adoption benefits
Form UI2.5 – application for dependants’ benefits by surviving spouse or partner
Form UI2.6 – application for dependants benefits by child or children of the deceased.
Form UI2.7 – remuneration received by an employee whilst still in employment
Form UI3 – application for payment of illness benefits
Form UI4 – application for the continuation of maternity benefits
Form UI5 – application for the continuation of adoption benefits
Form UI-8 – application for registration as an employer.
Form UI-19 – declaration of information of commercial employees and workers employed in households
Form UI 12 – appeal to RAC
