UIF blames 'lack of compliance' for system failures
"Many companies are making contributions for employees, but they are not registered with the UIF or SARS and do not pay those contributions over," says Commissioner Teboho Maruping.
Picture: Fati Moalusi/AFP
Lester Kiewit speaks to Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner Teboho Maruping about the challenges unemployed South Africans face when claiming.
Anecdotes abound of people claiming they have not been paid their UIF benefits for months. Some report not receiving everything they're owed while others report registration issues.
UIF's online offerings seem to be down on most days.
One of the main reasons for UIF issues is 'compliance', says Maruping.
"We pay over 15 000 claims per day... so there are many claims being put through and many people being paid everyday... but there are people not being paid for a number of reasons, one of them is the issue of compliance."
- Teboho Maruping, Commissioner - UIF
"One of the things we collectively emphasize is the issue of compliance, there are many companies that are making UIF contributions for employees but they are not registered with UIF and SARS or pay those contributions over to UIF... then when you come to UIF to make claims, we can't find anything... this is the main issue we are facing right now."
- Teboho Maruping, Commissioner - UIF
The UIF is collaborating with SARS to ensure it provides a better service, says Maruping.
"We've started to work with SARS. They collect 98% of contributions and data on UIF's behalf... compliance levels for small companies who aren't contributing via SARS, it affects the individuals' claims... and for individuals not registered with SARS who are not paying UIF, it makes it difficult for UIF to pay them."
- Teboho Maruping, Commissioner - UIF
Maruping notes that UIF and SARS work together to 'fix gaps and inefficiencies'.
From 1 September, UIF will launch new developments to help alleviate some issues, adds Maruping.
"As of 1 September, introducing new developments and initiatives which will alleviate some frustrations struggling South Africans are facing."
- Teboho Maruping, Commissioner - UIF
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.