Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act [No. 4 of 2002]


Government Gazette

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Vol. 441 Cape Town 28 March 2002 No. 23289
THE PRESIDENCY
No. 406 28 March 2002
It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act, which is hereby published for general information:–
No. 4 of 2002: Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002


2 No. 23289 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 28 MARCH 2002
Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
(English text signed by the President.) (Assented to 27 March 2002.)
ACT To provide for the imposition and collection of contributions for the benefit of the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
B fo1lows:- E IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sections
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
1. Definitions 2. Purpose of Act 3. Administration of Act 4. Application of Act
5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18. 19.
CHAPTER 2
DUTY TO CONTRIBUTE, AND RECOVERY OF CONTRIBUTIONS
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10
Duty to contribute to Fund Determination of contribution Employer must deduct employee’scontribution 15 Payment of contribution to Commissioner and refund Payment of contribution to Unemployment Insurance Commissioner and refund Duty to register as employer and duty to provide particulars Payment of amounts collected by Commissioner into National Revenue Fund 20 Interest on late payments Penalties on default Application of Income Tax Act Labour inspectors
CHAPTER 3
GENERAL
Collection costs Offences and penalties Regulations Short title and commencement
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Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
Definitions
1. In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise- “Board” means the Unemployment Insurance Board established in terms of 5 section 47 of the Unemployment Insurance Act; “Commissioner” means the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service established by section 2 of the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act N ~ . 34 of 1997); “contribution” means the contribution determined in terms of section 6; IO “Director-General” means the Director-General as defined in the Unemployment Insurance Act; “domestic worker” means an employee who performs domestic work in the home of his or her employer, and includes a- (a) gardener; 15 (b) person employed by a household as a driver of a motor vehicle; and (c) person who takes care of any person in that home, but does not include a farm worker; “employee” means any natural person who receives any remuneration or to whom any remuneration accrues in respect of services rendered or to be rendered by that 20 person, but excludes an independent contractor; “employer” means “employer” as defined in paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule to the Income Tax Act, and includes a “representative employer” as defined in that Schedule; “financial year” means the period commencing on the first day of March in any 25 year and ending on the last day of February in the following year; “Income Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962); “labour inspector” means a labour inspector as defined in the Unemployment Insurance Act; “Minister” means the Minister of Finance; 30 “regulation” means a regulation made under section 18; “remuneration” means “remuneration” as defined in paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule to the Income Tax Act, but does not include any amount paid or payable to an employee- (a) by way of any pension, superannuation allowance or retiring allowance; 35 (b) which constitutes an amount contemplated in paragraphs (a), (cA), (d), (e ) or
(eA) of the definition of “gross income” in section 1 of the Income Tax Act; or
(c) by way of commission; “seasonal worker” means any person who is employed by an employer for an 40 aggregate period of at least three months over a 12 month period with the same employer and whose work is interrupted by reason of a seasonal variation in the availability of work; “this Act” includes the regulations; “Unemployment Insurance Act” means the Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001 ; 45 “Unemployment Insurance Commissioner” means the Commissioner designated by the Minister of Labour in terms of section 43 of the Unemployment Insurance Act; “Unemployment Insurance Fund” means the Fund established by section 4 of the Unemployment Insurance Act. 50
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Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
Purpose of Act
2. The purpose of this Act is to provide for- (a) the payment of contributions for the benefit of the Unemployment Insurance
(b) procedures for the collection of such contributions. Fund; and
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Administration of Act
3. (1) This Act must be administered by the Commissioner. (2) The Commissioner may delegate any power or assign any duty which relates to he
collection of- (a ) contributions payable to the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner in 10
(b) any information to be submitted by employers in terms of this Act, terms of section 9; and
to the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner.
Application of Act
4. (1) This Act applies to all employers and employees, other than- 15 ( a ) an employee and his or her employer, where such employee is employed by
that employer for less than 24 hours a month; (b) an employee and his or her employer, where that employee receives
remuneration under a learnership agreement registered in terms of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998); 20
(c) employers and employees in the national and provincial spheres of govem- ment; and
(d) an employee and his or her employer, where that employee has entered the Republic for the purpose of carrying out a contract of service, apprenticeship or learnership within the Republic if upon the termination thereof the 25 employer is required by law or by the contract of service, apprenticeship or learnership, as the case may be, or by any other agreement or undertaking, to repatriate that person, or if that person is so required to leave the Republic.
( 2 ) Despite subsection (l), this Act will only apply to domestic and seasonal workers and their employers 12 months after this Act takes effect. 30
CHAPTER 2
DUTY TO CONTRIBUTE AND RECOVERY OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Duty to contribute to Fund
5. (1) Every employer and every employee to whom this Act applies must, on a monthly basis, contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. 35
(2) The contributions must be paid by the employer either to the Commissioner in terms of section 8 or to the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner in terms of section 9, whichever is applicable to the particular employer.
Determination of contribution
6. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the amount of the contribution payable in terms of 40 section 5-
(a) by an employee, must be one per cent of the remuneration paid or payable to
(b) by an employer in respect of any one of its employees, must be equal to one that employee by his or her employer during any month; and
per cent of the remuneration paid or payable by that employer to that 45 employee during any month.
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Act No. 4,2002 UNElMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
(2) Subsection (1 j does not apply to so much of the remuneration paid or payable by an employer to an employee during any month as exceeds an amount determined from time to time by the Minister of Finance by notice in the Gazette, after consultation with the Minister of Labour and the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner.
Employer must deduct employe ’s contribution 5
7. ( 1 ) Subject to subsection (2) , an employer must, on a monthly basis, deduct or withhold the amount of the employee’s contribution contemplated in section 6(l)(a) from the remuneration paid or payable to that employee during that month.
( 2 ) Where the remuneration of the employee is paid at intervals other than on a monthly basis, the employer must deduct the amount of the employee’s contributions on 10 such other basis as coincides with the intervals of payment of remuneration by the employer to the employee.
(3) When making a deduction in terms of subsection (1) or (2) , an employer may not-
(a ) deduct amounts that are in excess of the amount of the contribution due by the 15
(b) seek or receive a fee from the employee for complying with this Act; or (c) deduct arrear contributions from the employee after the end of the financial
employee;
year during which it was payable. (4) Subject to subsection (3)(c), where the employer fails to deduct the contribution 20
as contemplated in subsection (1) or (2) , the employer is liable for such contributions. ( 5 ) If any payment made by the employer to the Commissioner or the Unemployment
Insurance Commissioner in terms of section 8 or 9, as the case may be, includes an amount which was deducted or withheld in terms of subsection (1) or (2) , and it subsequently becomes known to the employer that the payment made by the employer 25 was not due or payable in terms of this Act, or was in excess of the amount due or payable, the employer must refund to the employee such amount or excess amount, as the case may be, as has been deducted or withheld and overpaid by the employer, despite the amount not having been refunded to the employer by the Commissioner or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, as the case may be. 30
Payment of contribution to Commissioner and refund
8. (1) Every employer, other than an employer contemplated in section 9( l), must on a monthly basis pay the amount of all employees’ contributions and the employer’s contributions in respect of every employee in the employment of that employer to the Commissioner not later than seven days, or such longer period as the Commissioner 35 may determine, after the end of the month in respect of which the contributions are payable.
(2) An employer must, together with the payment contemplated in subsection (I) , submit a statement in such form as the Commissioner may require and reflecting the amount of the payment and such other particulars as the Minister may prescribe by 40 regulation.
(3) If the amount of any contribution, interest or penalty paid by an employer to the Commissioner was not due or payable, or is in excess of thi: amount due or payable in terms of this Act, that amount, or such excess amount, must be refunded to that employer by the Commissioner. 45
(4) The Commissioner must notify the Director-General, within such period as may be agreed upon between the Commissioner and the Director-General, of the amount of the contributions, interest and penalties collected from, and refunds made to, employers during the previous month and provide such further particulars as may be agreed upon by the Commissioner and the Director-General. 50
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Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
Payment of contribution to Unemployment Insurance Commissioner and refund
9. (1) (a ) For the purpose of this section, “employer” means an employer who- (i) is not required to register as an employer in terms of paragraph 15 of the
(ii) has not registered voluntarily as an employer in terms of the Fourth Schedule 5
(iii) is not liable for the payment of the skills development levy in terms of the
(b) Subject to subsection ( 5 ) , an employer must, on a monthly basis and in respect of every employee in the employment of that employer, pay to the Unemployment 10 Insurance Commissioner not later than seven days, or such longer period as the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner may determine, after the end of the month in respect of which contributions are payable the amount of-
(i) the employee’s contribution which must be withheld from the remuneration of
(ii) the employer’s contribution as contemplated in section 6(l)(b).
Fourth Schedule to the Income Tax Act;
to the Income Tax Act; or
Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 (Act No. 9 of 1999).
the employee during that month, as contemplated in section 7(1) or (2); and 15
(2) An employer must, together with the payment contemplated in subsection (I), submit a statement in such form as the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner may require and reflecting the amount of the payment and such other particulars as the Minister may prescribe by regulation. 20
(3) The Unemployment Insurance Commissioner must pay all contributions, interest and penalties collected into the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
(4) If the amount of any contribution, interest or penalty paid by an employer to the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner was not due or payable, or was in excess of the amount due or payable in terms of this Act, that amount or such excess amount must be 25 refunded to that employer by the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
(5) (a) Where an employer on reasonable grounds believes that the total amount payable in terms of section 6(l)(a) and (6) in respect of all its employees during any financial year will not exceed such amount as the Unemployment Insurance 30 Commissioner may from time to time determine by notice in the Gazette, the employer may elect to make payment of the full amount of the total contributions in respect of that financial year in a single payment within 7 days after the beginning of that financial year. (6) If an employer discovers that the amount of the payment contemplated in
paragraph (a ) is less than the amount payable in respect of all its employees in terms of 35 section 6( l)(a) or (b), that employer must as soon as possible but before the end of the financial year in question pay the outstanding amount to the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner.
Duty to register as employer and duty to provide particulars
10. (1) An employer to whom this Act applies must apply for registration to the 40 Commissioner or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, whichever is applicable to such employer in terms of section 8 or 9, in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed by the Commissioner or Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, respectively.
(2) The employer must, together with the registration contemplated in subsection (1) 45 provide such information as the Minister may prescribe by regulation.
(3) The employer must, before the seventh day of each month, submit to the Commissioner or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, whichever is applicable to such employer in terms of section 8 or 9, such information relating to its employees as the Minister may prescribe by regulation, including details relating to- 50
(a ) the termination of the employment of any employee; and (b) the appointment of any employee by the employer.
(4) The Commissioner or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, as the case may be, may request the employer to provide within 30 days of the request, or such
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Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
extended period as the Commissioner or Unemployment Insurance Commissioner may allow, such additional particulars as may reasonably be required to give effect to the purpose of this Act.
Payment of amounts collected by Commissioner into National Revenue Fund
11. (1) The contributions, interest and penalties collected by the Commissioner in 5 terms of this Act must, after deduction of any refunds, be paid into the National Revenue Fund.
(2) The total amount of contributions, interest and penalties paid into the National Revenue Fund in terms of subsection (1) is a direct charge against the National Revenue Fund for the credit of the Unemployment Insurance Fund. 10
(3) The Director-General must, within 14 days after receipt of the notice from the Commissioner in terms of section 8(4), authorise the transfer of the amount of the contributions, interest and penalties paid into the National Revenue Fund to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Interest on late payments 15
12. An employer who fails to pay the full amount payable in terms of section 8 or 9 on the last day for payment as contemplated in section 8( 1) or 9( l), must pay interest on the outstanding amount at the rate contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of “prescribed rate” in section 1 of the Income Tax Act, calculated from the day following the last day for payment to the day that payment is received by the Commissioner or 20 Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, as the case may be.
Penalties on default
13. (1) If any contribution remains unpaid after the last day for payment thereof as contemplated in section 8(1) or 9(1), a penalty of 10 per cent of the unpaid amount is payable in addition to the interest contemplated in section 12, but the Commissioner or 25 the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, as the case may be, may, having due regard to the circumstances of the case, remit the penalty or any portion thereof.
(2) Subject to subsection ( 3 ) , where an employer fails to perform any duty imposed upon the employer by this Act or does, or omits to do, anything with intent-
(a) to evade the payment of any amount of contribution payable by that employer 30 in respect of any employee; or
(b) to cause a refund to that employer by the Commissioner or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner of any amount of contribution, interest or penalty which is not refundable or is in excess of the amount properly refundable to the employer, 35
an additional penalty not exceeding an amount equal to double the amount of the contribution contemplated in paragraph (a), or the amount not refundable or the amount of the excess referred to in paragraph (b), as the case may be, may be imposed on the employer.
determined by the Commissioner or the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, as the case may be, and must be paid by the employer within such period as the Commissioner or unemployment Insurance Commissioner may determine.
(3) The amount of the additional penalty contemplated in subsection ( 2 ) must be 40
Application of Income Tax Act
14. (1) The provisions of the Income Tax Act contemplated in subsection (2 ) apply, 45 with the changes required by the context, to any contribution paid or payable in terms of this Act, in respect of-
(a) the administration of this Act as regards the xercise of powers and performance of duties and the preservation of secrecy;
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Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
(b) statements, the production of information, documents or things, enquiries, searches and seizures and evidence on oath for purposes of obtaining full information in respect of the calculation of the contributions due and payable in terms of this Act;
( e ) any assessment, objection and appeal; (d) the payment, recovery or refund of any contribution, interest or penalty; (e) representative taxpayers and representative employers; (f) any transaction, operation or scheme entered into or carried out for the
purposes of avoiding or postponing any liability for the contribution or of reducing the amount of the contribution;
(g) reporting of unprofessional conduct; and (h) the jurisdiction of the courts.
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( 2 ) For purposes of subsection (l), the provisions of the Income Tax which apply to this Act are those relating to-
(a) the administration thereof as contained in Chapter 1 of the Income Tax Act; 15 (b) returns, the production of information, documents or things, enquiries,
(c) assessments; (d) objections and appeals; ( e ) the payment and recovery of tax, interest and penalties; u) refunds; (g) representative taxpayers and representative employers; (h) transactions, operations or schemes for purposes of avoiding or postponing
liability for taxes on income or reducing the amount of taxes on income; (i) the reporting of unprofessional conduct; and ( j ) the jurisdiction of the courts.
searches and seizures and evidence on oath;
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Labour inspectors
15. The Commissioner or Unemployment Insurance Commissioner may request a labour inspector to assist in the investigation of any employer required to contribute in terms of section 8 or 9, as the c e may be. 30
CHAPTER 3
GENERAL
Collection costs
16. (1) Subject to subsection (2) , the Director-General must, on a monthly basis, defray the costs of collection by the Commissioner from the Unemployment Insurance 35 Fund.
(2) The total amount of the costs contemplated in subsection (1), excluding the start-up capital which must be defrayed from the budget of the Department of Labour, shall be equal to one and a half per cent of the total amount of the payments collected, or where the actual expense exceeds one and a half per cent of that amount, such actual 40 costs.
Offences and penalties
17. (1) A person commits an offence if that person- (a) fails to pay any amount due in terms of this Act on the day determined for
(b) fails to- payment thereof; 45
(i) submit or deliver any statement or other document or thing required to be
(ii) disclose any information required by or under this Act; (iii) reply to or answer truly and fully any question put to him or her in terms 50
(iv) attend and give evidence at an enquiry under this Act where duly
submitted or delivered by or under this Act;
of this Act;
required to do so; or
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Act No. 4,2002 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 2002
(c) hinders or obstructs any person in carrying out his or her functions in terms of
(2) Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act is liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months, or both a fine and such imprisonment. 5
this Act.
Regulations
18. The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette and after consultation with the Minister of Labour and the Unemployment Insurance Commissioner, make regulations about any matter which may be prescribed by regulation in terms of this Act or which is necessary to be prescribed for the effective administration of this Act. 10
Short title and commencement
19. This Act is called the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002, and takes effect on a date to be determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.