
Domestic Employer
Quick Answer
What is Domestic Employer?
A domestic employer is a household employing a domestic worker, gardener or au pair – with full UIF and COIDA duties from 24 hours a month.
Domestic Employer explained
Domestic employers register on uFiling for UIF and with the Compensation Fund for COIDA. The obligations mirror any business employer’s.
Who it applies to: Households with domestic staff.
Cost: UIF at 2% of remuneration; COIDA assessment on earnings.
Related terms and guides
Official source: Department of Employment and Labour
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.
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Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.