Learnership beneficiaries threaten to escalate protests over delayed stipend payments

The Department of Labour has attributed delays in the payment of stipends to thousands of learnerships in the province to “administrative discrepancies and attempted fraud” by Labour Activation Programme (LAP) partners.

Participants of the programme resorted to protest action on the R31 last week, where the road was blockaded by burning tyres and rocks.

Beneficiaries are planning to escalate their protests due to the continued delay in stipend payments.

"They keep moving the date of payment, and we are frustrated," they indicated.

Department of Employment and Labour Teboho Thejane said the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) was strengthening its review processes for the submission of invoices and attendance records by partnering companies.

“This is expected to improve overall efficiency. This proactive approach aims to ensure more reliable and timely distribution of stipends to beneficiaries.

“The UIF is streamlining stipend payments by implementing an electronic system and hiring short-term contractors to help process invoices. Additionally, internal capacity has been reassigned to assist the Labour Activation Programme.” 

He added that discrepancies would be closely looked into.

“Where necessary, investigations will be instituted to deal with suspected unscrupulous partnering companies.

“The acting Director General, Jacky Molisane, wishes to assure beneficiaries that a sufficient budget has been allocated to pay stipends for employability programmes in the current financial year and that stipends will be paid following proper procedures." 

Thejane stated that the department was committed to ensuring that all qualifying beneficiaries received their payments promptly and efficiently.

"Molisane cautions beneficiaries against engaging in actions such as violence and vandalism to express their concerns, as these may have far-reaching consequences that could hinder their integration into the labour activation programme and the labour market.” 

He added that the department would ensure that the Labour Action Programme processes were followed to the letter. 

“We reserve the right to take legal action against any party that attempts and or seeks to undermine and contravene the established process, in terms of existing signed agreements.

“Participants and stakeholders are reminded that the programme must remain impartial and free from external influence. Efforts to involve individuals who do not meet eligibility requirements undermine the integrity of the process and should be avoided to ensure the programme’s objective is achieved without undue pressure,” Thejane said.