Yes. If someone works in your home for 24 hours or more a month, registering them for UIF is compulsory. The Department of Employment and Labour's Inspector-General, Aggy Moiloa, put it plainly to IOL on 9 July 2026: "It's not optional, it's a legal obligation." One full 8-hour day a week is about 34.7 hours a month, so even a once-a-week worker is usually over the line. UIF is 2% of her pay each month, 1% from you and 1% from her.
What 24 hours a month means
| Her week | Hours a month (weekly hours times 4⅓) | Must you register? |
|---|---|---|
| One 8-hour day | about 34.7 | Yes |
| One 5-hour morning | about 21.7 | No (COIDA still applies) |
| Two 8-hour days | about 69.3 | Yes |
| Five 8-hour days | about 173.3 | Yes |
The rule applies to each employer separately. If she works for several households, each household that gives her 24 hours or more a month registers her.
If you have not registered yet
- Register as a household employer, on uFiling or with the UI-8D and UI-19 forms. AskMandla prepares and submits it for you once-off for R450: see UIF registration, done for you.
- Catch up the months that were missed from her start date, with the once-off 10% penalty: see UIF back pay.
- Pay and declare every month from now on.
The full guide: how to register your domestic worker for UIF.
Questions people ask
What happens if I don't register my domestic worker for UIF?
You owe every missed month anyway, plus a once-off 10% penalty on the unpaid amount and interest, and a labour inspector can issue a compliance order. Failing to pay or submit what the Contributions Act requires is also an offence. Your worker loses the cover she needs if the job ends.
Is UIF registration free?
Registering with the Department is free. The contributions are 2% of her pay each month. AskMandla's once-off service to prepare, submit and chase the registration for you is R450.
Sources
- IOL, "'It's not optional': Employers warned to register domestic workers for UIF in South Africa", 9 July 2026
- Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001, section 3 (the 24-hour rule)
- Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act 4 of 2002, sections 13 and 17