Labour, UIF & Compensation Fund
How to Register a Domestic Worker for UIF in South Africa
Household employers' duties in 2026: when you must register a domestic worker for UIF, how to get a reference number, and how to declare and pay each month.
Quick answer
If you employ a domestic worker, gardener, nanny, carer or driver in your home for more than 24 hours a month, you must register them for UIF. Get a UIF reference number by phone, email or at a Labour Centre, then register on uFiling to declare and pay monthly. The contribution is a small percentage of pay, split with your worker. Registration is free, and COIDA is a separate duty.
Key points
- You must register any domestic worker employed more than 24 hours a month, even if they also work for others.
- It applies to cleaners, nannies, gardeners, carers and drivers in a private home.
- Get a UIF reference number via the domestic workers line, email, post or a Labour Centre, then use uFiling.
- Contributions are a small percentage of monthly pay, split between you and your worker, up to an earnings ceiling.
- Declare and pay monthly, usually by the 7th; registration and declarations are free.
- COIDA (Compensation Fund) registration for domestic workers is a separate obligation from UIF.
Step by step
Why household employers must register
Employing someone in your home makes you an employer in law. If a domestic worker, gardener, nanny, carer or driver works for you more than 24 hours a month, you must register them for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and contribute every month. That threshold is low, so most regular household staff qualify, and the duty applies to each worker separately, even if the person also cleans or cares for other families. Registration protects your worker if they later lose income through unemployment, illness, maternity or a death in the family.
CluedUp is an independent explainer, not the UIF or the Department of Employment and Labour, and this is not legal advice. The Department has warned that household employers who fail to register can face penalties, so confirm the current rules with it and get compliant.
Getting a UIF reference number
Households register through a dedicated route. You can obtain a UIF reference number by phoning the UIF domestic workers line, emailing the UIF domestics address, posting your details to the UIF, or visiting a Labour Centre. Because these contact details are updated from time to time, confirm the current number and email on labour.gov.za before you send anything. Once you have a reference number, you register as a domestic employer on uFiling, which is where you will declare earnings and pay each month.
What you pay, and how it is split
The total UIF contribution is a small percentage of your worker’s monthly earnings, split evenly between you and your worker, up to a monthly earnings ceiling. In practice you deduct your worker’s half from their wages and add your own half on top, then pay the combined amount. You may not deduct the whole contribution from the worker. The exact rate and ceiling are set officially and can change, so rely on the current figures from the Department or SARS rather than an old number, and keep a simple monthly record both of you can see.
| Task | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Get reference number | UIF domestic line, email or Labour Centre | Free |
| Declare and pay monthly | uFiling | Free (plus the contribution) |
| COIDA cover | Compensation Fund | Separate duty |
Declaring and paying each month
Every month you declare your worker’s earnings on uFiling and pay the combined contribution, normally by the 7th or the last business day before it. Update the declaration whenever hours or pay change, or when your worker leaves. Keeping this current matters, because gaps can affect your worker’s ability to claim later. Registration and declarations cost nothing, so there is no official fee standing between you and compliance.
COIDA is a separate duty
UIF is not the whole picture. Domestic workers are also covered by the Compensation Fund under COIDA for injury or illness caused by their work, which is a separate registration and annual earnings declaration. Deal with both so your worker is protected on each front. Throughout, use only official, free channels: beware anyone charging a “registration fee” for the UIF, fake uFiling sites that harvest logins, and requests for your banking password or OTP. A private admin service is optional; a Labour Centre will help you for nothing.
⚠ Stay safe
Registering a domestic worker for UIF is free through the UIF and uFiling. Be wary of "agents" or websites charging a fee to register your worker, and of look-alike uFiling pages that phish for logins. The UIF will not ask for your internet-banking password or OTP. You may choose to pay a private service for convenience, but it is optional; a Labour Centre will help you for free. Always reach uFiling by typing the official .gov.za address yourself.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly must I register my domestic worker?
How much does it cost me?
How do I get a UIF reference number as a household?
Can I deduct the whole 2% from my worker's wages?
Is UIF the same as COIDA for domestic workers?
What if I have not registered yet?
Do I have to pay someone to do this for me?
Official sources
CluedUp is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.