Provincial Chief Inspector at the department’s Bloemfontein office, Manelisi Luxande, tells OFM News the daily complaints they receive are coming from helpless employees, in wide-ranging industries and sectors, who point out there is a gap between what government has communicated regarding economic measures imposed during the 21-day lockdown period versus what employees are doing on the ground. Luxande stresses that employers registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) are compelled to pay salaries and claim that payment back from the UIF. 

“Employers are not allowed to shortchange their employees by saying salaries are not payable due to the lockdown,” says Luxande sternly. Employers are further encouraged to claim from the department in light of the bulk payment system that has been arranged for employers.

He further addressed the issue of employers who are behind on their UIF contributions, adding that they must arrange to settle the outstanding contributions - including interest - and only then may they claim from the department. “We are all in a situation that has caused havoc and panic. But we can better deal with it, through collaboration,” says the Chief Inspector. 

This is but some of the measures in place to ensure businesses selling non-essential items are able to survive the lockdown. 

National Treasury has also relaxed tender processes for provincial departments, municipalities and municipal entities, to speed up the procurement of goods commodities required to reduce and control the spread of the novel coronavirus. The relaxation of the tender processes has been met with fierce criticism from opposition parties, notably the Democratic Alliance in the Free State. 

OFM News