Urgent update: October 2020 extension of the COVID-19 Temporary Employer / Employee Relief Scheme

by Jacques van Wyk, Director; Andre van Heerden, Senior Associate; and Thabisa Yantolo, Candidate Attorney

On 17 November 2020 the Department of Employment and Labour (“Department”) published a statement on the timing of TERS applications (“Statement”). The Statement follows the announcement of the extension of TERS made by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 11 November 2020.

In terms of the Statement, TERS applications for the period 16 September 2020 to 15 October 2020 can be made from 23 November 2020 and until 31 December 2020. The process of applying will remain the same and applications must be lodged via the online portal at: https://uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19/.

The TERS benefit is available for the following categories of employees whose employers: 

1. are not allowed to commence operations in terms of the Regulations published under the Disaster Management Act;
2. cannot provide alternative arrangements for vulnerable workers; and
3. cannot make use of their services as a result of operational requirements caused by compliance with the Regulations and Directions.

The Statement may be accessed at: http://www.labour.gov.za/uif-to-start-opening-and-processing-covid-19-ters-benefits-for-the-extended-period-from-next-week.