YOUR MONEY | Salary deductions: the cans and cant’s

Money can only be deducted from your salary with your permission or if your employer is legally required to do so. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act is very clear about deductions, mainly to protect employees from exorbitant or unnecessary deductions.

Here are some types of deductions and the circumstances under which each is allowed by law.

These include deductions to be paid to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), income tax and union fees. Other legal deductions are medical aid and retirement fund payments, provided it’s included in the employee’s service contract. The employer pays these amounts from the employee’s salary directly to the relevant funds.