UIF hosts seminar with the private security sector

LYDENBURG – The seminar was held at Thaba Chweu Local Municipality’s hall.
The purpose of the session was to engage workers and employers in the private security sector about the

Unemployment Insurance Act, which was amended and came into effect on January 1.
Some of the amendments to the Act included that workers can now claim for up to 365 days instead of 238 if they worked for a continuous four-year period. Contributing workers who are undergoing learnership training will be eligible for unemployment benefits once their contract ends.

Benefits will be paid from the date of unemployment instead of the application date, workers will have 12 instead of six months to claim for unemployment benefits, maternity benefits will be paid at a 66 per cent fixed rate and applications for maternity benefits must be made prior to the birth of the child or within 12 months.

The Department of Labour also elaborated on the national minimum wage, which came into effect on January 1, while the Compensation Fund (CF) will deliberate on the proposed amendments to the Compensation for

Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) bill on a later stage.
Local businesses agreed to these terms, but were concerned about not being informed when decisions and resolutions were taken when these acts were amended.

“I think it is fair when we calculate the monthly salary the employee will get, especially in the security industry. My only plea is that service providers like us should be consulted before,” said Valentine Mavuso of Zamantungwa Security Services.

A media briefing was also held after the seminar.