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· The South African Department of Employment and Labor has extended the COVID-19 Temporary employee/Employer relief Scheme (TERS) to 15 September 2020
· The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has so far disbursed more than R41 billion in 9,501,365 payments through applications by 825,814 employers
· Incidentally, a report by the Auditor-General has flagged fraud and financial mismanagement at the hands of both employees and companies.
· Against this backdrop, UIF Commissioner was placed on suspension
The South African Department of Employment and Labor has extended the COVID-19 Te Incidentally, a report by the Auditor-General have flagged fraud and financial mismanagement at the hands of both employees and companies. Against this backdrop, UIF Commissioner was placed on suspension mporary Employee/Employer relief Scheme (TERS) to 15 September 2020. Before announcing the decision, Labor Minister Thulas Nxesi held negotiations with National Economic and Labor Council (Nedlac).
It may be noted that in some industries lockdown was extended to 15 September. The decision to extend the timeframe of the scheme is triggered to continue to shield workers from the worst effects of the pandemic till the end of lockdown. The benefits under the scheme will be distributed either directly to the accounts of workers or through their employers. The receipt of COVID-19 TERS benefit applications for August to September 15 shall close on October 30.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has so far disbursed more than R41 billion in 9,501,365 payments through applications by 825,814 employers. The UIF will continue to receive applications for the March2020 to end July 2020 period until 15 September 2020. However, no further applications will be accepted beyond that date.
Incidentally, a report by the Auditor-General has flagged fraud and financial mismanagement at the hands of both employees and companies. Against this backdrop, UIF Commissioner was placed on suspension.
R500 billion was set aside by the government to help cushion the blow felt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – R57 billion of those funds were spent towards the UIF TERS scheme and SASSA social grants payments
