UIF launches free mobile app to speed up payments
The Commissioner believes the UIF mobile App will put more money in the pockets of clients because they will save on travelling.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has launched a zero-rated mobile APP, as well as a free USSD platform to enable clients to access UIF services at any time.
THE CORE MANDATE OF THE UIF MOBILE APP
This will go a long way to reducing long queues at the labour centres, according to UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping.
The app was launched on Monday, 4 September to bring services to the people and enable UIF clients to access services at any time, from anywhere at no cost.
Unveiling the platforms during a media briefing in Cape Town, Maruping said the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and mobile APP will promote greater self-service for clients, reduce long queues in the labour centres and alleviate pressure on officials.
The eUIF Commissioner believes the platforms will put more money in the pockets of clients because they will save on transport costs currently incurred when visiting labour centres.
“There is really no better time than now to do this to ensure that workers begin to access services at their fingertips. We are moving with the times to create a better, more capable Unemployment Insurance Fund that leverages technology to respond to challenges on the ground and changes in the external environment.”Maruping
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MARUPING BRINGING SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE
He said the Unemployment Insurance Fund recognises that most of their clients may not be in the best financial position when they need to access their services, hence the initiative to launch the mobile app and USSD platform.
Maruping said the two platforms also enable clients to check their registration status, which will improve non-compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Act by employers who fail to register, declare and pay contributions for their workers.
“By simply dialling *134*843# on any cellular phone for free, clients can, among others, submit a continuation of payment or check their claim and payment status, instead of visiting a labour centre. The same services can also be accessed on our mobile APP, which can be downloaded from either Google Play Store, App Store for IOS phones or Huawei App Store,” Maruping explained.
CALL FOR UIF CONTRIBUTING WORKERS TO USE THIS PLATFORM
The Commissioner also called on all UIF contributing workers to use these platforms to check their registration status, whilst in employment, and not wait until they are no longer working.
“If you find that your employer has not registered you, but is deducting UIF, then immediately report this to a labour inspector so it can be corrected,” Maruping said.
The Commissioner stressed that the fund is committed to taking bold steps to improve service delivery.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund will go on roadshows to educate clients in all provinces and implement a mass media campaign.