UIF registration will cost R500
2003-05-01 22:44
Cape Town - All is not lost for employers who did not register their domestic workers with the Unemployment Insurance Fund by Wednesday.
Snuki Zikalala of the department of labour, said employers could still register their domestic workers, but would be fined about R500.
He said thousands of people still tried to register their workers after the cut-off time at midnight on Wednesday. Communication lines to the department were still overloaded on Thursday.
Eventually, only 300 083 of the country's estimated 800 000 domestic workers were registered. Those who are registered will now be eligible for unemployment benefits such as maternity leave.
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana called on employers to still register their employees.
Those who ignore the regulations could be facing a maximum fine of R5 000 or five years in prison.
Households that failed to register their employees before the deadline, would have to pay 10% of the maximum fine on registration.
Employers and employees will contribute 1% of the employees' salaries to the fund from May 7.