The Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) ‘Destroyed, Affected or Looted Workplaces: Temporary Financial Relief Scheme’ has finally been approved.
The scheme, which has been gazetted, aims to assist workers whose workplaces have been closed due to the recent unrest in KZN and Gauteng, resulting in either reduced pay or no pay at all.
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According to the Department of Employment and Labour’s estimates, more than 75 000 workers have been impacted by the unrest in both provinces.
‘The scheme seeks to assist workers in affected businesses. However, every employer not yet registered with the UIF will have to register first to access the benefit.
‘Qualifying employers will be required to apply on behalf of their employees through a process that the UIF will specify,’ said UIF spokesperson Makhosonke Buthelezi.
The process will enable employers to make bulk applications, and they will be required to meet the following conditions:
• The employer must be registered with the UIF
• The employer’s closure must be directly linked to the destruction, damage or looting of its workplace
• The employer must provide details of the destruction, closure, damage to, or looting of its workplace, and submit documentary proof of a report to the South African Police Services, with proof that a case has been opened by providing a case number, and, if insured, proof of submission and acknowledgement of receipt of the insurance claim
• The employer must confirm in writing or electronically that he/she accepts the terms of the scheme herein and any procedure document issued by UIF
• Submit any other information that the minister or delegated authority may require to assess eligibility of claim
‘Payment of the temporary financial relief may only be done directly into the worker’s bank account unless the UIF Commissioner specifies the conditions under which payments can be made into the employer’s account,’ said Buthelezi.
