Boitumelo Booi, Employment and Labour Deputy Minister has said the COVID-19 Temporary Employers/Employee Relief Fund that was set up to help those who found themselves out of work due to lockdown, will be extended to August.
This extension came just after the national state of disaster was extended to August by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Apparently, the COVID-19 pandemic spurs national efforts to mitigate the spread of infections.
Boitumelo said in a statement regarding the extension:
“I must say, Honourable Members, that it gives me great pleasure to also announce that following due diligence and consultation with the UIF actuaries and in line with the President’s decision to extend the life of the Disaster Management Act until the 15th of August 2020, we have taken a decision to similarly extend the COVID-19 TERS benefit until the 15th of August 2020.”
Booi mentioned that when she led a debate on the department’s budget vote via a virtual National Assembly mini-plenary on Tuesday in place of Minister Thulas Nxesi, who could not make the plenary due to ill health.
Booi said, while addressing the plenary that the benefit structure and existing criteria would remain the same and applications for April and May will be closed by the end of July.
She further said that although applications already received for these two months will be processed – this is the guarantee that the department gave to the people.
She finally said that:
“The provision of the COVID-19 TERS benefit also required strict financial controls and I am reassured, Honourable Chairperson and Honourable Members, that it was the UIF itself that detected recent attempted fraudulent activities and I am also encouraged by the speedy response of our law enforcement agencies in bringing the culprits to book.”
