BusinessLive reports that the Department of Employment & Labour (DEL), which administers the Covid-19 relief funds, has had to shut several offices after employees tested positive for the virus.  

This could lead to further delays in the processing of applications for the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters), administered by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).  There have been ongoing complaints from the business sector and employers about the DEL’s capacity to expeditiously process claims.  In the Western Cape, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in SA, the DEL said on Wednesday that the Mitchells Plain labour centre, with its satellite office in Nyanga, would remain closed for an additional week.  They are expected to reopen on 25 June.  The Paarl labour centre has also been closed since Wednesday following a positive case, and was due to reopen on 22 June.  The UIF head office in Pretoria also closed its doors on Wednesday.  As the UIF administers Ters, the HO closure is expected to have an impact on the fund’s operations.  But, a DEL spokesperson said payment of benefits would continue.  In the Eastern Cape, the labour centre in East London resumed operations last week after it was closed due to a coronavirus case.  Meanwhile, the Home Affairs head office in Pretoria had to be vacated on Thursday after a general worker tested positive for Covid-19.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive

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