ANA reports that Cosatu on Wednesday pointed out that it would cost about R8 billion to extend the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) for another two months and the sdtate’s refusal to do so smacked of contempt for workers.  

In a submission to Parliament's standing committee on finance, the labour federation claimed that the Cabinet and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) had reneged on a decision in September by President Cyril Ramaphosa to let the time frame of Ters match that of the State of Disaster declared in respect of the Covid-19 health crisis.  Responding to last week’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), Cosatu noted that, despite there having been engagements between government and social partners on the matter at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), the National Coronavirus Command Council had taken a unilateral decision last week to cancel the Ters.  Moreover, the UIF's assets were valued at R114 billion, allowing ample scope to extend the Ters benefit to December.  The federation said the decision would see companies and workers flouting remaining Covid-19 restrictions and putting the country at a heightened risk of a second spike in infections.  Cosatu added that the government's stance raised a question as to whether the UIF should continue to fall under the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) or be placed under the direct control of business and labour.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Independent News

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