The Citizen reports that there are mounting calls for the government to reopen the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF’s) Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief (Ters) scheme for businesses and workers that won’t be able to operate over the next 14 days.

Labour federation Cosatu and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have challenged the government to avail Ters funds in the wake of the Level 4 lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday evening. They say the tougher lockdown will deal a devastating blow to many enterprises in the liquor industry, the restaurant and hospitality sectors, as well as in the tourism, wedding and conferencing sectors. Cosatu’s Bheki Ntshalintshali said that the government needed to find funds to help affected industries, adding that it might not be a legal obligation but remained a moral obligation. “For as long as the government prevents people from participating in the economy, it has a duty to mitigate the devastating economic impact with financial assistance,” said the DA’s Michael Cardo. The DA called on the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, to communicate with the public on the matter urgently.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyanda Ndlovu at The Citizen

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