More than 8.5 million people are receiving payments from the Unemployment Insurance Fund. If a bill before parliament’s labour committee is passed, benefits could be extended to a year.
The far-reaching amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act would extend Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) benefits from a maximum of 238 days to a maximum of 365 days.
Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant introduced the bill just before the elections, but the committee did not have enough time to examine it.
Currently, the maximum an employee can claim from UIF is eight months, provided he or she has contributed for 238 days over four years. The amendment would allow workers to receive UIF benefits for one year.
“For the same contributions workers will be compensated for a year instead of eight months,” says Muzi Mkhwanazi, deputy director of communications and marketing at the UIF.
To qualify for the extension, claimants must be registered as work seekers with the ESSA (Employment Services of South Africa) at the Department of Labour…
South Africa Today – South Africa News
