Union calls on employers to ‘assist workers during the extended lockdown’
"Some employers were refusing to assist workers who were struggling to access UIF/TERS payments as they were not familiar with the rules,"
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) says it has received numerous complaints from some employers in the private sector who are ‘ failing to assist workers during the COVID-19 lockdown to access the UIF/Temporary Employment Relief Schemes payments.’
“Some employers were refusing to assist workers who were struggling to access UIF/TERS payments as they were not familiar with the rules,” said Riefdah Ajam of FEDUSA General Secretary in a statement sent to the Courier.
“These latest reports received from workers have been met with absolute dismay and smacks of arrogance and insensitivity towards the national protocols and gazetted proclamations articulated by President Ramaphosa and the Command Teams of Cabinet Ministers who have been passionately driving the disaster management relief process through the special dispensations announced.
“FEDUSA will not allow its members to be subjected to such demoralising and insensitive practices, that will only add insult to an already traumatic experience due to the COVID 19 lockdown.
“The Federation therefore calls on Minister Nxesi to act with vigilance and move with haste to uphold the spirit and intent of the various special dispensations that have been gazetted to safeguard and minimise the impact of this pandemic on South African society overall.”
Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says his department has received numerous complaints about employers attempting to shift the financial burden of the 21-day lockdown onto employees. Minister Nxesi that this was being done by various means, including insisting that workers use their annual leave allocation during this period.
Minister Nxesi was quoted by the Citizen as saying that some workers had complained they were being forced to take unpaid leave during the lockdown.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, he reiterated that the government had made funds available to businesses to mitigate some of the losses experienced due to the shutdown.
“As a department we have issued a directive explaining the process to follow and the kind of benefits employees will be entitled to under the Unemployment Insurance Fund. We have also announced a national Covid-19 Benefit Fund that the UIF has put in place as an instrument to mitigate effects the layoff of workers during the lockdown.
“It is important though that all parties must understand that the UIF cannot deal with the millions of individual claims that will come through at the same time. This will lead to delays in the processing.”
Related story:
COSATU urges employers to safeguard workers against infection
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