UIF pays close to R6-billion in May relief payments
UIF claims for compensation are also growing steadily.
THE Department of Employment and Labour continues to assist workers with payments through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), as well as processing Covid-19 claims through the Compensation Fund (CF).
For May payments alone, the UIF disbursed close to R6-billion to 1 440 757 individuals to help them cope with the worst effects of the lockdown, while the CF has logged 448 claims that have been received directly as well as via Rand Mutual and Federated Employers.
The relief payments are part of the basket of services government laid out to different sectors as a means to ride the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen businesses close and workers going without income.
The UIF has plugged this hole for most workers who are able to take care of their families with the income replacement.
Cumulatively since April 16, the UIF has paid over R23-billion to 3 663 932 workers represented by 322 422 employers.
A total of 154 310 workers have been paid relief benefits directly to their bank accounts to the tune of R679-million since April to date.
UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping said the biggest worry is the number of jobs that are being shed or going to be shed, by different companies and how this will put a strain to the liquidity of the Fund into the future.
READ RELATED: UIF has R1-billion processed for payment
“This is a good time for employers to do right and declare and contribute for workers to the UIF. If ever UIF demonstrated how critical it is to the lives of workers, the contribution that it has made during the lockdown should be evidence enough. We hope those companies that have not declared their workers will do right and declare all workers,” he said.
Maruping said 750 614 employees who were not found on the UIF?s Siyaya system lost a collective R3.3-billion in payments while the lack of proper banking details means that 988 workers have lost R448 378.20 in payments.
The Fund also continues to pay ordinary benefits to the unemployed, new mothers, dependants and for illness and adoption with over R3-billion paid to date from 26 March.
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