The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has announced extended operating hours at selected service points on Saturdays during September to accommodate the increased demand for services. This follows a Pretoria High Court ruling that temporarily halted a new service provider contract for the uFiling platform, which processes UIF claims and registrations.

uFiling, an online platform for UIF benefits, was suspended due to lack of support. In response, the UIF processed over 181,000 claims, paying out R419 million at service points nationwide. To manage the influx, UIF service points will operate from 07:30 to 16:00 in several locations, including Emalahleni, Secunda, and Mbombela in Mpumalanga.

New employer registrations can be completed through BizPortal, while employee registrations must be done at labour centres. Employers can declare their employees via email or in person, and contributions are due before the 7th of each month.

The UIF is confident that extending hours and improving service processes will help handle the claim volumes effectively.