COVID-19 RELIEF PAYMENT TO BE EXTENDED
The COVID-19 TERS relief payments have been extended.
In a statement, the Department of Employment announced on Tuesday the 21st of July that the extension is in line with the extension of the National State of Disaster.
“Following due diligence and consultation with the Unemployment Insurance Fund actuaries, and in line with the President’s decision to extend the life of the Disaster Management Act until 15th August, we have taken the decision to similarly extend the COVID-19 TERS benefit until 15th August 2020.”
The Department initiated the COVID-19 TERS (Temporary Employers Relief Scheme) at the beginning of the national lockdown to assist employers and employees against the financial effects of the pandemic.
Initially the relief payments were only applicable for the months of May, June and July.
The extension comes as a welcome relief to many employers who are unable to pay their employees due to the lockdown restrictions. Some of the hardest hit sectors have been the restaurant, tourism, beauty and hair industries.
The ongoing cigarette ban and the reinstated alcohol ban has put major companies under a lot of pressure.
According to the statement, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has paid out some R34-billion since the start of the lockdown on the 26th of March 2020.
The statement was accompanied with a media briefing held by the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms Boitumelo Moloi, as the Minister is in isolation after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Image credit: IOL