claims
29 November 2007
Department of Labour has urged employers and workers to join it in the fight
against fraudulent unemployment claims by certain workers. Departmental
Spokesperson says the act of drawing unemployed benefits whilst employed
remains the biggest challenge facing the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
Speaking in Pretoria, UIF Spokesperson, Kgomotso Sebetso said between April
2005 to March this year, the Fund had already lost more than R66 million
through this unlawful practice.
He warned workers that, not only is it against the law to continue to draw
UIF benefits whilst employed, but a person also jeopardises chances of
receiving any future UIF payments. He added that the culprits could face up to
a five years ban.
"It is considered fraud for one to continue to receive benefits despite
having secured a new job. We want to issue a stern warning to workers to desist
from such practice and we will soon be announcing further drastic measures to
curb this ongoing tendency of breaking the law," Sebetso said.
He reminded employers that it was their duty to submit details of their
workers timeously.
"Should all employers submit accurate declarations on time to update and
maintain a database of more than 7,3 million workers, the battle would be
almost won. Employers must inform us on termination of service or any new
addition to employment immediately after that happens," Sebetso said.
Sebetso added that to improve on its collection rate the fund had involved
the services of the State Attorneys in various provinces and third parties such
as International Trade Commission (ITC) to assist in debt collection. The fund
has over the past three years recovered close to R20 million rand with close to
R9 million having been recovered in the first half of this year.
Anyone found to be engaging in this unlawful practice should be reported
immediately through the UIF Fraud Hotline at 0800 60 11 48 or the UIF e-mail
hotline at fraud@uif.gov.za.
Issued by: Department of Labour
29 November 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
