The government has established the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) with the aim of providing short-term relief to employees when they become unemployed, or are unable to work because of illness, maternity or adoption leave and also to provide relief to the dependants of a contributor who has died. If an employee becomes unemployed, the UIF will pay the employee for a maximum period of 6 months while that employee is unemployed. Employees, companies and the state contribute to this fund.

There are five kinds of benefits covered by UIF:

• Unemployment benefits
• Sick benefits
• Maternity benefits
• Adoption benefits
• Dependant’s benefits

For more information on the UIF look up the Department of Labour website: www.labour.gov.za