UIF receives 27 000 applications for Covid-19 relief
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has received over 27 000 applications since the start of the national lockdown period.
That number is still expected to rise as more companies cut employee salaries to stay afloat.
UIF’s Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) will supplement earnings for employers who have bad to close their doors, or part of their operations, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and where an employee has suffered a loss of earnings.
ALSO READ:
Civil society campaign launched to fight coronavirus
The Community Constituency Covid-19 Front was launched in Pretoria on Thursday - day 14 of the national lockdown. The network of organisations will focus on educating the most vulnerable about the virus and monitoring government's response. "We cannot afford to respond and speak about access to health and continue to violate human rights.
“The National Disaster Benefit Fund was conceptualised to assist companies or employers who due to the lockdown are unable to pay salaries of their employees,” says UIF spokesperson Makhosonke Buthelezi.
“Officially now it is called the COVID-19 TERS Benefit.”
Buthelezi says R10 billion has been earmarked for the fund, cautioning employers to take note that the benefit only applies to the lockdown period.
“We have about R10 billion for Covid-19.
“It’s not to say if it will be enough. This is the money we ring-fenced so time will tell if really it will be sufficient,” he adds.
Buthelezi says they are working tirelessly to process the large quantity of applications.