looms
26 march 2007
Employers are left with only five days to submit their Return of Earnings
forms with the Compensation Fund (CF).
Since the beginning of March the CF embarked on a month-long campaign
reminding employers of their responsibility to submit their annual Return of
Earnings (ROE) forms and to register with the Fund.
Labour Department spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi today (Monday) urged employers
to start taking their responsibility by registering their companies with the
Fund.
She said that despite the heavy penalties for non-compliance, thousands of
employers had still not registered, while some still evade submitting their ROE
forms for their annual assessments.
"Employers need to start complying with the law by registering their
companies. They need to realise the importance of this because failure to
comply could lead to civil claims in the event of an occupational accident or
fatality," she said.
All persons who employ one or more workers in businesses or farming
activities are required by law to register and pay annual assessment fees to
the CF. It is also unlawful for any employer to try and recover these funds
from their workers.
The Fund's revenue consists mainly of annual assessments paid by registered
employers by contributing a certain percentage or fixed rate of the earnings of
their employees.
At the end of January each year, ROE forms are sent to all employers on the
Fund's database. These forms are then completed and returned by no later than
31 March of the same year.
The assessment rate, at which the employer is assessed, depends on the
individual employer's business operations. For rating purposes, employers are
therefore sub-divided into different classes according to the nature of their
activities.
Assessment rates are fixed on the principle that each industry should carry
the costs of its own accidents, and are reviewed annually. Any adjustment to
the assessment rate is therefore based on the company's accident history.
Benefits for being a registered employer include immunity from civil suits
by employees � even in the event of negligence on the employer's part;
provision for the payment of compensation to employees sustaining injuries or
death on duty; as well as the payment of monthly pensions to employees who
sustain permanent disablement as a result of an occupational injury.
Registration and ROE forms are obtainable from any of the Labour Department
provincial offices and Labour centres countrywide.
Further information can be obtained by calling the Compensation Fund, call
centre on 0860 105 350.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
26 March 2007
