Covid-19: 14 113 domestic workers benefit from UIF relief funding so far
More employers are urged to apply as the Department of Employment and Labour has almost a million domestic workers on its system.
As of Saturday, May 16 Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) figures showed that 14 113 domestic workers had benefited to the tune of R55 572 870m. The figures also showed that 10 092 employers had lodged claims on behalf of their domestic workers.
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“Certainly, we are beginning to ensure that the spirit and letter of our intervention is reaching the most vulnerable of our society. While we are happy that the efforts are beginning to bear fruit, we are worried that this still represents a drop in the ocean in terms of domestic workers on our systems, who number almost a million,” said Minister Nxesi.
We need more employers to apply on behalf of their domestic workers so that they benefit from the relief scheme and mitigate the worst effects of the lockdown.
Last week Minister Nxesi announced that a private company, Interfile has agreed to join forces with the department to help trace domestic workers through cellphone numbers and other forms of communication to ensure that they receive the necessary benefit.
This effort, coupled with the work done by the department in ensuring that it combs through its databases to track and trace recipients has, said the minister, made all the difference.
“Currently the department is also going through its database to reach out to farm workers who are also in our category of the most vulnerable groups. I have instructed the department to do everything possible to track and trace workers in these groups to ensure that no worker is left behind or falls through the cracks of the social net we are providing.”
The payments to domestic workers come on the heels of the UIF also ensuring that where possible, workers are paid directly which speeds up the relief by placing the money directly in the hands of the workers, and not their employers. However, employers are still urged to register claims on behalf of their workers.
Overall, since April 16, the department has distributed R13.3 billion to 2 401 973 workers. “Behind these figures are real human beings who are being enabled to withstand the worst of the pandemic’s economic meltdown. While we are thrilled that we are able to make this difference, it would really be a slap in the face if employers of domestic and farm workers do not take advantage of this scheme and make sure that they lodge claims on time,” Minister Nxesi added.
For more information on benefits payments, log on to the department’s website or call the UIF on the toll-free number 0800 030 007.
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