A Policy Dialogue hosted by the United Nations Entity for Gender and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour was held today, 19 August 2022, in Tshwane.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation Fund (CF) informed attendees during a roundtable discussion of the Policy Dialogue that they provide benefits for domestic workers in South Africa.
The discussion provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in the extension of benefits to domestic workers in the country. Other stakeholders who also were present are; the United Domestic Workers of South Africa/ Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU); United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA)and Izwi Domestic Workers Alliance.
Allan Ragavaloo, director of provincial support mentioned that "The UIF extended the benefits to domestic workers since 1 April 2003, through the Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001 (as amended), made possible by the Sectoral Determination for Domestic Worker Sector in September 2002. The benefits are for all workers who contribute".
The dialogue also shared that benefits for domestic workers were extended in 2020 after the Constitutional Court ruling in the Mahlangu case declaring section 1(xix)(v) of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 invalid, with immediate and retrospective effect to 27 April 1994.
Union representatives in attendance requested that the Department through UIF and the CF should share more information to enlighten and educate domestic workers on their rights.
In response, the Department promised to share information and knowledge with them and to attend to challenges faced by unions and domestic workers.
The trio of the ILO, UN Women, and UNICEF in closure promised to continue to facilitate more policy dialogues between the stakeholders.
For more information, contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ Teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za
-ENDS-
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
© 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour
