BL Premium reports that the government is dragging its feet on the announcement of a decision on the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters), despite the uncertainty it has raised in business and labour sectors.  

Lobby group Business 4 SA (B4SA) earlier this week raised concerns that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) had taken a unilateral decision not to extend the scheme beyond mid-September.  This was despite a commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the aid would be available until the end of the state of disaster, which has been extended to 15 November.  Apparently, at a National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) meeting on Tuesday, social partners raised issues about the lack of clarity about application of the scheme in respect of tourism and the liquor industry.  A Nedlac committee met later on Tuesday afternoon with acting Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner Marsha Bronkhorst over the issue of the extension of the Ters benefit.  The UIF, however, was reportedly still waiting for formal communication from employment & labour minister Thulas Nxesi or the NCCC.  The social partners want Ramaphosa to intervene in the matter.  Both business and labour have urged that the benefit be extended for as long as the state of disaster continues for those categories of workers restricted from working under level 1 of the lockdown regime.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Quintal at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

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