BL Premium reports that in his weekly newsletter published on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that detailed plans to cushion businesses and workers affected by the latest restrictions meant to curb the spread of Covid-19 and reduce pressure on hospitals would be published soon.

“Just as we did at the beginning of the pandemic, we have been engaged in deliberations with all social partners, business, labour and civil society to see what financially sustainable measures we could introduce to support businesses and individuals in distress at this time,” Ramaphosa indicated. He stated that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), after discussion with labour and businesses, would extend its wage protection scheme, the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme [Ters], to workers affected by the lockdown restrictions. “We will soon publish the details of this extension, including details on who is eligible,” Ramaphosa said. He also advised that to support businesses whose operating licenses and permits expired between March 2020 and June 2021, the government would extend their validity until the end of December 2022. In addition, new business licences or permits that are issued from 1 July will also be valid until 31 December 2022, and no licence fees will be payable.

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

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