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The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will soon be rolling out Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) platform that will enable employees to check their registration and claim status for free at the comfort of their home.

This was announced by UIF Director: Compliance, Malesela Makgamatho, during a stakeholder engagement session with employers today in Rustenburg, North West, that was organised by the Unemployment Insurance Fund, an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour.

The objectives of the session were to advocate the services of the Department, promote compliance of labour laws, strengthen relations and improve service delivery.

Speaking at the session, Makgamatho, said that clients who do not have money or time to visit the Department, will access the UIF's services by simply dialling the code at their convenience using any cellular phone network once it is up. Makgamatho said the introduction of USSD will promote self-service to clients and reduce the long queues in the labour centres. He added that the USSD would put more money in the pockets of claimants, as the service would save them a transport trip to the labour centre.

“The USSD will enable clients to access information about the services of the Fund. It will also give them locations of the nearest office around the country and, they will also be able to use the USSD to check if they are registered for UIF, check the status of their application, submit payment continuation requests and check status of their payment. The extraordinary benefit of the USSD is that claimants and stakeholders will not incur any airtime cost: the service will be free," said Makgamatho.

He also encouraged employers to register their businesses, submit declarations and pay contributions through the modernised online UFiling system which is another way that the Department uses to speed up service delivery. 

The session also focused on the amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Act, Public Employment Services, Compensation Fund Act and National Minimum Wage.

Media enquires:

Lungelo Mkamba

Deputy Director: Communications

Unemployment Insurance Fund

079 889 0719

-ENDS-

Issued by:

Makhosonke Buthelezi

Acting Departmental Spokesperson

071 491 7236

Makhosonke.buthelezi@labour.gov.za

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