I recently had to start my personal UIF claims process and, in no particular order, here are my concerns which I feel people should be made aware of before they visit the Department of Labour office in Port Shepstone.
I waited in the queue from 4.45am and reached the counter at 1pm.
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After waiting a little over eight hours, my concern lies with the elderly who stand in the queue for the entire day (in the sun) in the hopes of being assisted.
Judging by the time it took me to enter the building, I believe these people were never helped.
Even after the woman ahead of me in the queue asked security to rather send the people further down the queue home to try again another day, the reply was simply: ‘We can’t tell people what they must do’.
I feel they can learn a thing or two from the licensing department and issue numbered tickets according to how many people they can reasonably accommodate per day and send the rest home, instead of letting them roast in the sun.
Another issue is that nobody has been assigned the particular task of checking everybody’s forms and giving them what they need before they enter the building.
Instead when I got to the counter I was given a form which I had to take to my bank to get stamped.
This was after phoning the department and being assured me that I only needed my ID document, salary schedules and a UI-19 form to start the claims process.
Lastly is the issue of the queue jumpers.
I noticed people pushing in and nobody was doing anything about it.
I asked everyone in front of me if they were waiting for anybody.
One gentleman said he was waiting for four staff members to join him.
Two women subsequently joined him in the queue ahead of me.
I mentioned this to the people behind me who were understandably furious.
I raised this with a security official who assured me he would let us speak to the manager.
I took a recording of her response.
Meanwhile, other people were joining the front of the queue – in front of security.
This will naturally make anybody cross because you now have to wait 15 to 20 minutes longer for each person who pushes in to be served.
In turn, the elderly now have to wait longer in the sun as well.
I hope that people become aware of the situation and that the department makes some much-needed changes.
DARREN
Note: The Department of Labour has been contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of going to print.
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