DOMESTIC UIF DEALINES

Good morning bloggers - and this should have been posted on 3rd May.

Ok people, so I'm a little late for the UIF deadlines - however having said that, the Tax Amnesty ends on 31st May, if you did not do your domestic UIF on time, you still have a reprieve until 31 May to declare your mess in terms of the Amnesty. UIF does fall under this, so get it done. I really don't think that there are going to be any additional chances to do this and believe me when I tell you, if you don't register for Amnesty and you get caught - you will face charges!

Domestic's UIF deadline looms January 4, 2007

Employers have until the end of this week to update details of their domestic workers with the unemployment insurance fund (UIF), UIF spokesman Kgomotso Sebetso says. This is in line with wage increases set out by the Department of Labour in December 2006. "The Department of Labour announced the new adjustments in terms of the sectoral determination for domestic workers, which sets out the minimum wages and employment conditions for the workers in this most vulnerable sector," he said.

The new wage table stipulates that domestic workers wages would go up to R1066,90 per month for employees working more than 27 hours in a week. "But this applies in area A or the higher paid areas which are mostly metropolitan areas." Sebetso said those working for more than 27 hours per week in the lower paid areas "mostly rural" will have their wages go up to R865,54 per month. Last year the minimum salaries were R997,04 and R808,92 respectively. As a result of the changes, close to 530 000 employers are required by law to inform the UIF commissioner. "Such information regarding changes in remuneration should be forwarded within seven days after the end of each month. In this case, information should be supplied to the fund before January 7 this year," Sebetso said.

"All those domestic employers who pay their UIF contributions annually were expected to submit their declarations once a year, but this must also be in line with the new wage increases. "Failure to comply with the law can result in employers being fined or imprisoned. Close to 628 000 domestic employees were registered with the UIF since 2003. "Since the first registration in 2003, UIF has made more than R65 million payments to about 74,000 beneficiaries as temporary relief during their time of unemployment," he said. "Although most of the claims were largely in the unemployment benefits, the Fund received the applications on other benefits such as the maternity, adoption and death benefits." Sebetso said the UIF "prides itself of the exceptional contributions it made in alleviating poverty in this sector".

For easy filing and registrations, employees can go to http://www.busrep.co.za/www.ufiling.gov.za. - Sapa