Directives on relief to be issued ’soon’

LABOUR and Employment Minister Thulas Nxesi says directives will be issued in the coming days to help the more than 72 000 workers estimated to have been impacted by the unrest and looting that gripped KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng two weeks ago.

These workers, who have either been temporarily laid off or retrenched, will soon be able to apply for monetary relief. Nxesi yesterday outlined the benefits for workers who were affected by the lockdown and the unrest.

A looting rampage in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng two weeks ago resulted in businesses being shut down and some infrastructure destroyed.

There was an outcry about the possible impact on jobs because of some businesses possibly closing down forever and others temporarily.

President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned the economic relief during his Sunday night address to the nation.

Nxesi unpacked this, saying it was estimated that more than 72 000 workers in Gauteng and KZN might have been affected by the unrest.

He said there was currently no benefit designed for this situation, but his department would be issuing directives in the coming days to detail the benefits scheme.

It is envisioned that this should be wrapped up by tomorrow, with applications possibly being accepted by next week.

Nxesi said the directives would outline how the payouts would work, but he insisted that it would not be “free for all”.

He said stringent measures would be put in place to avoid fraud.

He said as with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme

(Ters) introduced in March last year, employers would play a key role in signing up workers. However, the money would be paid directly into the bank accounts of workers.

With regard to Ters, R5.3 billion has been budgeted for the new phase of the scheme for companies affected by the level 4 curbs. Labour Department director-general Thobile Lamati said these funds were also likely to be used to help workers affected by the unrest.

Nxesi said the UIF had another Ters designed to assist companies in distress.

Companies that have a plan to turn around their businesses in six months could apply for this scheme through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

The minister said it was a reality that some businesses might never recover from the unrest. Workers who have been retrenched or laid off would be eligible for skills training offered by the UIF, Nxesi said.

Ters has so far paid out more than R61bn and assisted 5.4 million workers.