Do I need to register my domestic worker for COIDA?
Short answer
Yes. Since the Constitutional Court's Mahlangu judgment (Mahlangu v Minister of Labour [2020] ZACC 24, 19 November 2020), every household that employs a domestic worker is a COIDA employer and must register with the Compensation Fund. COIDA covers your worker — and their dependants — for injury, illness or death arising from their work, at no cost to the worker. You register once, then file an annual Return of Earnings and obtain a Letter of Good Standing.
Step by step
1Accept that, post-Mahlangu, your household is a COIDA employer the moment you employ a domestic worker.
2Register as an employer with the Compensation Fund (CompEasy portal).
3Declare each worker's actual earnings in the annual Return of Earnings (ROE), capped per worker at the OID limit.
4Pay the assessment (a household pays at least the R560 minimum) and obtain your Letter of Good Standing.
5Confirm the current ROE filing window with the Compensation Fund — the dates can shift year to year.
6If a work-related injury or illness happens, report it and lodge the claim with the Fund.
What Mahlangu changed
For decades domestic workers were excluded from the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA). In Mahlangu v Minister of Labour [2020] ZACC 24 (handed down 19 November 2020) the Constitutional Court struck down that exclusion as unconstitutional, with retrospective effect to 27 April 1994. Regulations bringing domestic workers into the system were gazetted on 10 March 2021. The practical result: a private household that employs even one domestic worker is now an 'employer' for COIDA purposes, just like a business.
Who is covered, and what for
COIDA covers domestic workers — including gardeners, cleaners, nannies, drivers and au pairs employed in a private home — for occupational injuries, work-related illnesses and death arising out of and in the course of their employment. Compensation can include medical costs, temporary or permanent disability payments, and benefits to dependants if a worker dies. The worker never contributes: COIDA is funded entirely by the employer's annual assessment.
What you actually have to do
Register as an employer with the Compensation Fund, then declare each worker's earnings in an annual Return of Earnings (ROE) and pay the resulting assessment. Once your account is in order the Fund issues a Letter of Good Standing, which proves you are compliant. COIDA assessable earnings are capped per worker per year at the OID limit (R668 000 for 2026/27), and a household pays at least the minimum assessment of R560. The ROE is filed during an annual window — check the Compensation Fund for the current filing dates, as they can be extended by gazette in a given year.
How an injury claim works
If your worker is injured or falls ill because of their work, the claim is lodged with the Compensation Fund — the worker does not sue you personally, and you are not personally liable for the medical bill if you are registered and in good standing. You report the incident, the worker (or their dependants) submits the claim, and the Fund assesses and pays the benefit. Being registered and up to date is what makes this protection available; an unregistered employer can be held liable directly and can face penalties.
Frequently asked questions
Is COIDA registration really compulsory for a private household?
Yes. After the Mahlangu ruling ([2020] ZACC 24) every household employing a domestic worker is a COIDA employer and must register with the Compensation Fund. It is not optional and applies even if you employ only one person.
Does my domestic worker pay anything towards COIDA?
No. COIDA is funded entirely by the employer's annual assessment. The worker contributes nothing and is covered for work-related injury, illness or death — including benefits for dependants.
What is the COIDA Return of Earnings deadline?
COIDA requires an annual Return of Earnings and a Letter of Good Standing, but the filing window can be extended by gazette, so we don't quote a fixed date here — check the Compensation Fund for the current filing window.
Does the 24-hour-a-month rule affect COIDA?
The 24-hour threshold is the registration trigger for UIF and COIDA. But note: a worker's basic rights — minimum wage, leave, a contract and a payslip under the BCEA — apply to every domestic worker regardless of hours.
Dignita is a compliance tool, not legal advice. Figures are based on current South African legislation; confirm with a labour-law professional for your situation.