The Department of Employment and Labour: Limpopo Province's Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) yesterday, 23 February 2022 hosted a media briefing to provide an update on the COVID-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Covid-19-TERS) and normal benefits paid in Limpopo during the 2021/2022 financial year.

Through the Labour Activation Programme (LAP), the UIF unpacked its initiatives for job creation and retention in Limpopo. The Department also reflected on the 2021/2022 workplace inspections, which were carried out to ensure and enforce compliance with labour laws.

"Do not pay third parties money to claim/apply for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Benefits on your behalf; departmental officials will not accept or prioritize them"; said Deputy Director Beneficiary Services Ronet Landan.

This is in response to client reports of agencies soliciting money from them while promising quick claim processing. UIF services are free and can be paid on time if all required documents are submitted to the Department.

Landman went on to say that delays in paying claims on time are frequently the result of employers failing to declare their employees or properly updating the information. "We urge employers not to give their employees the UI19 form because by the time it reaches our desks, a lot of information, such as salary and hours worked, has changed".

The Department encourages employers to use the online uFiling system because the department has dedicated staff across the province to help employers navigate the system.

Director UIF Vuledzani Mulindi urged media outlets to conduct due diligence and seek investigative journalism before submitting UIF inquiries to the department, noting that the majority of the delays are also due to employers failing to declare or contribute to the fund.

"Our officials cannot pay incomplete applications; we rely on employers to send the necessary documentation so that we can finalise the payments"; Mulindi explained.

The Department encourages clients to check their status with the fund; if they discover that they are not registered, they must report this to the nearest Labour Centre for intervention and compliance enforcement.

The fund paid R1 530 941 404 and for normal benefits while between April 2021 and January 2022 in Limpopo; R1,6 billion was paid for TERS benefits.

The total number of TERS applications received from the province since April 2020 is 173 080, which resulted in 147 659 payments processed, 7 839 employers and 150 099 employees paid.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Carol Mthethwa reflected on the 2021/2022 workplace inspections that were conducted to check and enforce compliance with labour laws. She said a total of 15 072 inspections were conducted in all Sectors.

The Department alluded to client complaints about the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant, stating that most clients are unable to access it because their names appear on the Department's UIF system; it is unfortunate, however, that the Department's officials cannot remove a client from its system without written confirmation from the employer.

For media inquiries, kindly contact:

Lerato Mashamba

Provincial Communication Officer: Limpopo

082 908 1833/ lerato.mashamba@labour.gov.za

Or

Makhosonke Buthelezi

Director: UIF Communication & Marketing

071 491 7236/ Makhosonke.Buthelezi@labour.gov.za　

“Always wear your mask, observe social distancing and wash or sanitise your hands frequently"

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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