Business Insider SA reports that amid reports of companies stealing Covid-19 payouts meant for workers, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has appointed auditors to “follow the money trail”.  

Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi advised in a statement:  "It is alleged that there are companies that have not paid the workers what is due to them.  We are aware of some companies allegedly loaning employees the money and that is not legal.  We are also aware of other companies that are allegedly paying part of the money and not the full amount, as well as companies using the money for something else other than the intended purpose.”  Employees who are put on leave, have been laid off temporarily, or whose employers can’t afford to pay their full salaries due to the coronavirus crisis are entitled to Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) payouts.  Companies have to apply for the Ters payouts on behalf of their workers, and then distribute the payouts to them.  While employees can also apply directly to the UIF for the benefit if their employer has not applied, typically the money is paid via the employer.  Nxesi also urged companies to provide more details for more than 725,000 workers who have not yet been paid out because their applications are still missing information.  An amount of R3.2 billion is still due to those workers.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessInsider

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