Covid-19: Nxesi condemns employers holding back UIF benefits for employees
Nxesi described the practice as callous and insensitive to the needs of workers, especially those facing financial distress due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi has condemned employers who have received the UIF Covid-19 Ters benefits and failed to pass on the money to their employees.
Nxesi described the practice as callous and insensitive to the needs of workers, especially those facing financial distress due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The minister said the UIF has been inundated with calls from workers complaining that their employers have not paid them their benefits despite receiving the funds from the UIF.
Nxesi said, “I want to categorically state that this is inhumane and employers who are withholding funds meant for workers must immediately release payments.
“We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has brought economies of countries to their knees. Workers are the worst affected by this inevitable eventuality. The worst thing you can do as an employer is to withhold funds meant for workers.”
The Minister of Employment and Labour @NxesiThulas has come out blazing against employers who have receive @UIFBenefits #Covid19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme benefits from the UIF but are not passing on the money to workers. Full statement https://t.co/yzoPk9HFH7 pic.twitter.com/Dam68INj7E
— Department of Employment and Labour (@deptoflabour) May 8, 2020
He explained that the UIF system has been upgraded to allow employees to check the status of claims submitted by their employers. Employees can access their employer’s records by entering their ID number. Employees will be able to see how much has been paid to the company and how much should be paid to them as the employee.
The UIF said that they have paid out close to R11 billion in relief benefits so far. This is for the benefit of 1 924 060 employees through 156 831 employers.
Other payments have been effected through bargaining councils for 56 641 employees represented by 909 employers, paying out R155 481 810.86.
Employees can access the full list of all companies paid by the UIF at www.uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19/ or call the toll free UIF number on 080 003 0007.
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