Another Year, Another System Offline Moment: The Department of Labour's ROE Delays Continue
If there’s one thing South African employers can count on, it’s the annual frustration of navigating the Return of Earnings (ROE) submission process—and this year is no exception. The Department of Employment and Labour has once again announced delays due to system downtime, leaving businesses in limbo and scrambling to meet compliance deadlines.
The Latest Shutdown: What Happened?
On 31 March 2025, the Department of Labour issued a notice stating that the Compensation Fund (CF) system would remain closed until 10 April 2025, delaying the start of the 2024/2025 ROE submission season. Employers were originally expected to begin submissions on 1 April, but due to system issues, they were forced to wait until 11 April 2025 to access the platform. On the morning of 11 April 2025, another notice was issued delaying the issue further until at least 1 May 2025.
The Ripple Effect on Employers
This shutdown has caused significant disruptions, including:
Employer registrations halted—new businesses cannot register through the CIPC BizPortal or the CF’s back-office processes.
ROE declarations blocked—employers are unable to submit earnings reports, either online or manually.
Audit and assessment delays—the CF cannot clear flagged employers or process revision applications.
Instalment applications frozen—businesses seeking payment flexibility are left without options.
While some services remain unaffected—such as the CompEasy system for claims processing and the ability to generate a Letter of Good Standing (LOGS)—the overall disruption has left many employers frustrated.
This isn’t the first time the Department of Labour has struggled with system downtime. In previous years, similar shutdowns have forced businesses to rush submissions, increasing the risk of errors and compliance penalties. Employers are left wondering: why does this keep happening?
What Can Employers Do?
With the system now reopened, businesses should:
Submit ROEs as soon as possible to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Check for updates from the Department of Labour to stay informed about potential further delays.
Seek assistance from labour law specialists if they encounter submission problems.
Final Thoughts
While the Department of Labour has extended the LOGS expiry date to 31 May 2025 to accommodate the delay, the recurring system failures raise serious concerns about the efficiency of the ROE submission process. Employers deserve a reliable, functional system—not another year of uncertainty.
What are your thoughts on this latest delay? Have you experienced issues with the ROE submission process? Let’s discuss.
Department of Labour: System Offline
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