THE UNEMPLOYMENT Insurance Fund (UIF) will launch an online portal later this year, where services can be accessed on smartphones.

The UIF commissioner, Teboho Maruping, who visited Kimberley this week, stated that this would eradicate long queues at labour centres.

“The free, unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) and mobile application will allow clients to access services from the comfort of their homes,” said Maruping.

“The self-service app will allow clients to check their claims, lodge complaints and submit a request for payments.”

Maruping also indicated that the UIF would provide free wi-fi at labour centres.

“Fully-equipped buses will take services to clients in remote areas of the Province. We are mindful of the vast geographical spread in the Province and the high levels of poverty,” he added.

Maruping said that the UIF had paid out R488 million to 43 333 workers in the Northern Cape through the Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Ters).

He stated that 3 202 Covid-19 Ters applications were filed in the Province.

“The top 10 employment sectors in the Province that received the lion’s share of the funding are personal services, trade, mining, construction, hospitality, professional services, agriculture, educational services, and iron and steel.”

He noted that no cases of fraud were detected in the Northern Cape relating to Covid-19 claims.

“Forensic auditors of the UIF have audited companies in the Province to ensure that the correct amounts were paid over to workers at the right time. Claims are still being paid out.

“This is quite pleasing and refreshing because for a change we see a positive story, one of good corporate citizenry from employers. It also tells a story of caring employers because, as we very well know, the Northern Cape is one of the poorest provinces in our country,” Maruping added

He stated that there were about 50 cases of fraud involving companies and officials that were investigated in the rest of the country.

“The amounts in question amount to R800 000 where convictions of between three and 20 years imprisonment were imposed.”

Maruping added that the liquor and tourism industry were the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added that they were still awaiting a report on an investigation into the death of Kakamas farm workers who died during a heatwave.

“Dependants of the deceased workers can apply from the death benefit fund.”

He said that their officials in Upington were investigating an incident where a domestic worker was mauled by her employer’s pit bull dogs.

Smiso Nkosi, from the UIF Commissioner’s Office, said employers who refused to co-operate with the “follow the money” auditors could be blacklisted from UIF benefits.

“Employers are also expected to refund Covid-19 Ters funds that were unduly paid out.”

He added that foreign nationals and informal traders were also entitled to UIF and Covid-19 Ters benefits and small business relief, provided that they were in possession of the necessary identity documents, were registered with the South African Revenue Service and there was an employer/employee relationship.

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