Discontinued Covid-19 subsidy recipients left in limbo

JOHANNESBURG – Millions of employees and businesses that benefited from the government’s Covid-19 subsidy were left in a limbo after news emerged that the Department of Employment and Labour planned to discontinue the benefit.

Business For South Africa (B4SA) said the government would terminate the wage protection scheme that has saved millions of jobs impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The business lobby group said it learned that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) would not extend benefit payments beyond mid-September.

B4SA said the NCCC decided to not extend the Covid-19 Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) benefit any further.

B4SA said the decision would have negative implications for employers and employees and the economy as a whole.