The Citizen reports that the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) paid out close to R60 billion to 267,414 employers after applications opened in March last year.

Ters is a special UIF benefit employers can claim to pay employees who are not being paid or paid less as a result of Covid-19. According to the Department of Employment and Labour, 16,992 claims were not paid out for various reasons. However, one employers’ organisation, the National Employers Association of SA (Neasa), said its weekly survey found that 24% of employers had not received their payments for June last year, while 30% had not received their payments for July, 26% for August, 39% for September and 41% for October. In addition, only 77% of those paid in June received full payments, while 68% received full payments in July, 67% in August, 67% in September and 66% in October. A spokesperson for the department said some claims had not been paid due to discrepancies such as failed bank account verifications, incorrect salary details during lockdown and employees who were claimed for but not registered with the UIF. Since April last year, 267,414 employers had been paid in full, he indicated. The spokesperson was unable to give details about how much money was still left in the fund. “It is not easy to just give a figure because we have reserves for payment of normal benefits. I can only indicate that we have sufficient funds to cover our liabilities,” he advised.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen

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