UIF relief scheme

Department of Labour Minister Thembelani Thulas Nxesi
Photo: Twitter/@NxesiThuli

UIF confident it can support alcohol industry workers during 14-day lockdown

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says the UIF believes it can support laid-off workers in sectors including the alcohol industry.

UIF relief scheme

Department of Labour Minister Thembelani Thulas Nxesi
Photo: Twitter/@NxesiThuli

While certain sectors of the economy were slammed with another hard lockdown – Level 4 to be exact – there is some hope for laid-off workers over the next two weeks. Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, during a National coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) press briefing on Tuesday, said the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is confident that it can support those in sectors such as the alcohol industry during the hard lockdown. 

LEVEL 4: ALCOHOL INDUSTRY WORKERS SHOULD BE CUSHIONED WITH UIF 

While nothing is set in stone as yet, Nxesi said the UIF believes it can support laid-off workers in sectors which have been closed by government under Level 4, in particular the alcohol industry. 

In response to the move to Level 4 lockdown, the UIF management has been locked in discussion with their actuaries to find surplus monies to address the new conditions. 

“Remember the UIF has a duty to safeguard the funds of its contributing members for the day when they have to draw down on the Fund for ordinary UIF benefits in the case of retrenchment and unemployment. So paying out COVID-19 Ters benefits has always been something of a balancing act,” said Nxesi. 

NEDLAC will, this week, sit to consider the appropriate response to the newly adjusted Level 4 lockdown that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday June 27, however,  

“From the side of the UIF, we believe we will be able to afford to support laid-off workers in sectors which have been closed by government, in particular the alcohol industry, over the 14-day lockdown,” he added.

THE IMPORTANCE OF NEDLAC 

Apart from the UIF, Nxesi said Ramaphosa has consistently argued for social dialogue as we face our challenges as a nation. 

“We, therefore, cannot over-emphasise the importance of the work of Nedlac in facilitating engagement between the social partners and a united response to the pandemic and the lockdowns. This is all the more urgent in the face of the Third Wave. We have seen other countries tear themselves apart over this,” he said. 

Nxesi listed three points, including the EFF: 

  • The vax denialists and doubters have always been with us. We must redouble our efforts to persuade them – led by science and the data provided by the Department of Health;
  • We are also mindful of the concerns of those who want the vaccine, but are frustrated by the supply challenges we have experienced this year. Recent announcements indicate that we are beginning to turn the corner in this respect; and
  • What we cannot accept, and what must be fought by all of us, is the recent politically-motivated attempts to defy COVID-19 protocols. The approach seems to be: vaccinate us all immediately, or we will infect ourselves, our families and our communities. In this, the EFF emerges as a latter-day Nongqawuse, leading their supporters to destruction, in the process endangering everyone around them. This is opportunistic, reckless and criminal behaviour which must be addressed.