The United National Transport Union (UNTU) assures Union members that the Leadership of UNTU will continue to look after the best interest of workers during the Covid-19 lockdown.
UNTU was represented yesterday by our affiliated federation, Federation of Trade Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), during an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
At this meeting via virtual platforms Government, labour, business, and community organisations provided feedback and inputs on the responses towards the COVID 19 protocols.
President Ramaphosa alerted all parties to the major challenges South Africa is experiencing to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic is contained and to prevent the spreading of the virus in communities whilst juggling our frail economy that was already struggling with low growth and high unemployment.
The situation was aggravated by the decision of rating agencies to downgrade South Africa to junk just after the first lockdown was announced. The result was that the Rand weakened to an all-time low having a devastating impact on all South Africans.
At the end of the meeting the parties adopted a Risk – Adjusted Approach on how to manage the start and progression of the easing back into the economy without repeating the mistakes made by other countries by allowing South Africans to go return back to normality to fast.
Some of the key issues that were highlighted include:
- Submissions of applications to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the processing thereof. Enquiries to the UIF hotline increased from an average of 55 per day to 200. The staffing component of the UIF has been increased to handle the creased applications.
- Reporting of employers who apply for UIF, but who neglected to comply with its obligations towards the fund. NEDLAC will ensure action is taken against employers who continue to deduct contributions from the salaries of employees, but who neglect to pay them to the UIF.
- Employers who disrespect the Government protocols to provide employers delivering essential services with personal protective equipment (PPE’s) and the national shortage thereof. UNTU reported the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa to the Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi for not complying to its approved plan to combat the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The managing of essential products and essential services – strict action to be taken against employers who try to force employees to report for work without having authority to do so.
- Managing the Public Health System and the Public Transport Systems to restart the economy slowly without causing further mass infections of the deadly virus.
- Government Department will issue essential services permits for trade union leadership who needs to continue assisting employees who are working.
UNTU will communicate any new developments to our members.
The Leadership of the Union is available 24/7 to assist our members with any enquiries in these uncertain times.
We pray that our Creator keep all our members and their loved ones safe.
UNTU Greetings
Steve Harris
General Secretary
