CRS News Flash 21 July 2021 – SOUTH AFRICA – UIF TERS Benefits

On Friday, 16 July 2021 the Department of Labour and Employment released a media statement to announce the third phase of Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits for industries that cannot operate fully under level 4 restrictions.

The direction follows the announcement by Minister Nxesi three weeks ago that the department intended extending benefits to sectors affected by adjusted alert level 4 restrictions.

This time, however, workers will be paid their Covid-19 TERS benefits in their bank accounts and not through their employers. Employers are still expected to claim on their behalf.

This third phase will bring relief for the following categories of workers:

·        Workers who have not been able to work from 16 March 2021 due to level 1, 2 and 3 restrictions preventing gatherings of a certain number of people, such as in the entertainment industry.

·        Workers who were and/or are still impacted upon by the level 4 restrictions, which commenced on 28 June 2021.

·        Workers who have not been able to work since they are over 60, or have comorbidities and have not been able to work in the period, as well as those who have had to isolate or go into quarantine.