Sonja Vorster
The week before the lockdown, very little to no practical ‘how-to’ attention and coverage was given by the Minister of Labour, addressing the public regarding: a) The workers that companies had to place on the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) due to the lockdown; b) New claims such as maternity, death, illness and pension claims.
No attention was given by the Minister to the current claimants of UIF benefits required to sign during lockdown, to receive payment. UIF claims were covered in a very short verbal section on the last day before lockdown. Credit must be given to the department, which gave good social media coverage on Facebook and on the www.labour.gov departmental Internet site.
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However, many rural people do not have access or data for Facebook or surfing the Internet. Various sections of the newly-designed labour site are difficult to navigate. The online registration process is slow and laborious. You certainly need to have an uninterrupted network coverage. The Department of Employment & Labour has changed, among others, the required documents. The documents have undergone numerous re-designed changes.
This created major issues for claimants, as the UI19 was suddenly a colourful two-page document and mid-month changed back to a one-page document.
In 2020, this particular document had three changes in two months! Thus, claimants trying to claim, for example, on the two-page document were sent back to companies stating that the form was wrong. It is now back to a one-pager. But now the spacing is so small that it is difficult to complete the details such as entering the remuneration of the employee. I must urge employers to download the current available forms.
Many employees are simply not assisted, as the form (which is, in all practicality, the same) is not accepted by department officials if it is not the latest designed form available online. Herewith is the “how to” guide for employers and applicants, the problems you may find along the way, and how to attempt to overcome these problems:
THE GUIDELINE TO EMPLOYERS
Employers who were forced to lock down were advised to either utilise the available leave of the employee, or claim UIF. Using the available leave would be the simplest option and pay the employee during the period of lockdown from the available leave. Using available leave would provide companies with the time to work possibly over normal shutdown periods during December to make up for the business lost during this lockdown period.
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However, if sufficient leave is not available, the employer needs to use the available UIF claim and Workmen Compensation Fund claim process: The employer needs to issue the following documents, which are obtainable from the www.labour.gov Internet site. When you open the site, look at the TOP BAR, which provides the following options: Home / About us / Contacts / Online services / Newsroom / Resources Centre / Tenders / Jobs.Click on RESOURCES CENTRE. A drop-down selection will appear. Click on FORMS. Another drop-down selection will appear.
Click on UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND. Select and download the following four documents for each employee: UI 19, UI2.1, UI2.7, UI2.8. When you download these four documents, you can open and complete them on the Adobe Acrobat programme, which is a free downloadable programme, or manually. Ensure that NO errors are made (no tippex), as no alterations are acceptable under any circumstances by the department. Complete each document and only leave the areas that the employee or bank need to sign.
Please help your staff in this manner, as they are going to experience enough problems attempting to get the claims processed. Provide copies of three months’ payslips. Even if you did issue payslips monthly, many employees do not keep the payslips. Provide a letter on a letterhead, or for domestics just clearly stating that he / she is a domestic worker. A clear copy of the employee’s Identity Book.
(Remember, employers: Postnet is closed and the employee, unless they have access to a computer and printer, cannot make copies). The letter needs to confirm the period of employment, rate of earnings and that the employee is sent home unpaid (stating the period) due to the lockdown. For essential workers, look under the Department of Labour website under RESOURCES / FORMS and download the statement letter provided that must be completed, which states that the employee is being sent home for self-isolation.
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THE GUIDELINE TO EMPLOYEES
The employee needs to go to a bank that is open (certain branches have closed) and needs to have the UI2.8 form stamped and signed at the bank. The identity copy must be certified by the SAPS or at the Magistrate’s office, as the department does not accept any other Commissioner of Oaths’ commissioned document. The applicants and claimants need to now take all the prepared documents to the Department of Labour to apply for their benefits.
THIS IS WHERE THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED PROVISION AND DISMALLY FAILED THE DESPERATE PUBLIC THAT NEEDS CLAIMS PROCESSED TO HAVE MONEY TO SURVIVE DURING THE LOCKDOWN!
Many claimants have found that Department of Labour centres, such as the Estcourt branch, are on lockdown.
It is thus impossible for people to manually claim. They need to claim online. People who do not have computers, Internet facilities, smartphones, scanning facilities and data to use cannot get their claim processed. You cannot visit internet cafés, as they are on lockdown.
You cannot visit a friend or family member, as you are on lockdown! The Labour Minister needs to urgently come up with a solution, as thousands of people (especially in our rural areas) do not have these facilities. Please help our communities that cannot access the technology and claim UIF.
For the applicants, if you are one of the unfortunate ones with no access to technology, you will unfortunately have to wait until the department opens its doors again to hand in your claim. Employers will have to give time off for these unfortunate claimants. Employees (applicants / current claimants) who need to sign for ongoing benefits, with access to the Internet, need to do the following: Go to the Department of Education & Labour Internet site: www.labour.gov When you open the site, look at the TOP BAR, which provides the following options: Home / About us / Contacts / Online services / Newsroom / Resources Centre / Tenders / Jobs. Click on ONLINE SERVICES. A selection of sections is available, such as a help desk and a manual you can download. But to get started immediately, you will need to first register online.
Click on REGISTER in the far right hand corner of your screen. Read the terms and conditions. Click YES in the small box that asks if you have read, understood and accepted the terms. Go to the far right hand corner and click CONTINUE. A questionnaire needs to be completed. All questions must be answered, otherwise you cannot continue.
The last question is how you wish to receive your communication: by SMS or by email. Ensure that your email address and / or cellular number is correct. You are identified by your identity number and if you made a mistake, you will have to call the help desk, as you will not be able to try and re-register, as the system will block you.
Ensure that you select a username that is something you will remember.
You will then have to wait to receive an SMS or email that will provide you with a password, which will enable you to LOGIN onto the system. Once you are logged in, you select the option of EMPLOYEE and go to the various selections offered on the site. I cannot go into detail on each claim process or signing process, as it is long and media space is limited.
The contact number for the help line of the department’s online UIF service is 0800-843-843. As a community service, I have a Labour Buzz Facebook group you can join, in which I attempt to assist the community as far as I possibly can and address questions.
I pray that each and every person takes the necessary precautions and stays indoors during the lockdown, which may be extended if the public does not adhere to instructions.
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