UIF commences payment of unrest relief scheme

A total of R6.4b has been paid to 1 402 workers affected by the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, said the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) in a statement.

Payments were made after a stringent verification process was completed. This included: checking if workers were registered and declared with the UIF, monthly contributions are up to date, and physical inspections of the affected businesses.

Since the opening of the application process in August 2021, the UIF received applications for the Workers Affected By Unrest (WABU) Relief Scheme from 500 employers on behalf of close to 16 000 workers.

“From the 500 employer applications received, we have paid 1 402 workers, which is not a great number considering that 16 000 workers have applied. We are, however, not worried about this seemingly low number because it shows the robustness of our verification process, which ensures that only those who meet our standards are fit for payment,” said UIF acting commissioner, advocate Mzie Yawa.

“We have also noted that some employers have used false SAPS case numbers and luckily our system can pick up through checks that the cases are not genuine. We urge all to act honestly, these are hard-earned monies for vulnerable workers, not get rich quick schemes,” said Yawa.

The WABU benefit is paid directly into the employee’s bank account and is calculated at a flat rate of R3 500.